A report into the Laxey floods will be published ’as soon as practicable’, the Chief Minister told Tynwald.

Howard Quayle had ordered the independent inquiry into the devastating floods which hit lower Laxey on October 1 last year.

Mr Quayle told Tynwald that the report by consultants Arup was received by the Cabinet Office last month.

He said: ’Since then our priority has been the preservation of life in response to the Covid pandemic which has involved widespread and significant redeployment of public sector resources.

’Regrettably, this means the report has not yet been carefully reviewed and the Council of Ministers has not yet been able to consider its response.

’I will, however, commit to publication as soon as is practicable.’

Daphne Caine (Garff) pressed: ’Why can’t it be published in its entirety now?’

Mr Quayle replied: ’I think it’s important that we review it first and get it out as soon as possible.’

Householders in Laxey were forced out of their homes when the Laxey River burst through breaches in the river wall in Glen Road, following torrential rain.

A total of 37 properties were flood-damaged. Some residents lost virtually everything and have struggled to get insurance at a price they can afford. Others have been unable to sell their homes.

’The Laxey flood could have claimed in one morning nearly as many lives as we have lost so far with the dreaded Covid-19 virus,’ said Martyn Perkins (Garff). Mr Quayle agreed that it was of the ’utmost importance’ to those residents who were flooded that the report is published. ’Unfortunately this is one of the difficult decisions we’ve had to take during this state of emergency,’ he said.

Following the flood, the river was cleared of fallen trees and branches and a concrete structure on top of the old MER weir was removed as it acted as a trap for debris. The breached river wall has been replaced with a higher storm-proof precast concrete wall.