The changing face of Ramsey’s West Quay was discussed at the monthly commissioners’ meeting.

Following the recent demolition of the former Barry Curran car showroom, Shearwater Properties Ltd now has the go-ahead to demolish the adjacent former Farmers’ Combine Warehouse. A temporary building preservation notice issued by the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture was revoked after a government survey found that the building was structurally unsound and therefore beyond economical repair.

Commissioner Alby Oldham said: ’I’m all for conservation, but there comes a point where a building is so run down that it is no longer viable’.

Julia Wedgwood said: ’The quayside generally is suffering from buildings in a poor state of repair. I’d like to see this building preserved, but I wouldn’t want to hold up future development.’

Wilf Young said: ’I’d like to see it kept, but who’s going to pay for it to be repaired?’

Chairman Andy Cowie added: ’I’m uncomfortable about it being demolished without a plan to rebuild.’

All agreed that whatever replaces it should be in sympathetic style.