Manx National Heritage has responded to criticism about it care of heritage attractions in Castletown.

Residents have raised concerns about the continued closure of the Old Grammar School, which is only open by special request, and ’neglect’ of Speaker’s Garden.

And there are claims that the town’s former police station - the Baillie-Scott designed building bought by MNH from the Department of Home Affairs in 2017 - could become a reception area for a new hotel.

MNH insists it has to prioritise projects when working limited resources.

Its trustees and director had recently met with the Commissioners to discuss ’matters of mutual interest’, the heritage body said.

It said since 2014, it has undertaken building repair and conservation works on the Old Grammar School which has significantly improved the damp problem but there is still more to do.

There has been partial refurbishment of the Nautical Museum including a new family-friendly gallery and uncovering the dock of the cellar.

At Castle Rushen, gorse has been removed and the defensive bank facing the Market Square repointed. There have been ’significant repairs’ to the roofs of two towers and a new accessible entrance to the castle, drawbridge and displays on the ground floor have been created.

Exterior redecoration of the Old House of Keys has been completed.

A spokesman said trustees allocated money from their limited reserves to fund the purchase of the former police station from the government.

She said: ’The Old Grammar School is small, has limited services and has needed considerable remedial work.

’Unfortunately it cannot be our highest priority for our limited resources. Operationally the site does not generate enough income to support opening it on a daily basis though we do open it for groups and educational activities.

’We will be reviewing how we could support increased access but this has to be within the constraints of a very tight operational budget.’

Responding to claims about the Speaker’s Garden being ’neglected’, she said: ’We are developing the gardens in a different way to the municipal parks type planting schemes of previous years.

’Our horticultural manager is currently experimenting with new planting schemes that befit the nature of the ancient monument setting and he is developing proposals for increasing access to this part of the castle grounds in the future.

’This is to give greater thought to sustainability and wildlife in support of our island’s Biosphere status and the nature of the site itself.’

Former chief minister and Castletown MHK Tony Brown claimed MNH’s trustees had made up their minds up about the future of the old police station before the public consultation held in September.

He said: ’It should be a ticket off/shop/tourist information point.

’MNH’s responsibility is to protect our heritage. Having to buy the old police station created a debt for MNH and I have sympathy about that. But this is our heritage.

’There is always pressure on finances. To be self sustaining is not the role of MNH. They are meant to be financially prudent, not self-sustaining. If they are driving their policy on that, they may as well close everything.’

Commissioners’ clerk Hugo Mackenzie said the Speaker’s Garden should be used as a route from the square to the castle - and this was raised recently when members of the local authority met with MNH.

But he said: ’It’s not down to us to dictate how MNH operates. We are absolutely putting pressure on them. But they are the experts.’