Ramsey Commissioners will consider making a formal offer to buy Ramsey Courthouse and the grounds when it meets this week.

At Wednesday’s full board public meeting, members will consider a recommendation of the Ramsey Courthouse sub-committee that the local authority makes an offer valued at £397,800.

No money would change hands. Instead, the Department of Home Affairs would be able to occupy and use the police office in the town hall rent-free for 26 years.

A public requisition meeting will take place on Friday evening at Ramsey Grammar School’s West Building at 7pm.

It follows written requests from 33 Ramsey residents.

The MHKs for Ramsey, Garff and Ayre and Michael have all been invited to attend along with Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey.

A consultation by Ramsey Town Commissioners on the future uses of the Courthouse generated some 936 responses. Some 75 per cent of respondents felt that Ramsey Commissioners should seek to retain the building in public ownership.

The most popular commercial uses were restaurant and retail while the most popular community uses were an arts centre, community hall or tourist information centre.

The most popular suggestion from the free form comment boxes was for a facility similar to Peel’s Centenary Centre or Erin Arts Centre.

Mr Malarkey announced last week that the historic building had been put on the market at a price of £475,000 and there had been at least two expressions of interest.

He told the House of Keys that he was hopeful a decision on the sale could be reached within two or three weeks.

Meanwhile the Ramsey branch of the Royal British Legion has written an open letter to a number of Ministers and Ramsey Commissioners chairman Andrew Cowie with concerns the site plan appears to include the town’s war memorial.

Branch chairman Andy Cowie said members wanted to ensure there would be unrestricted access to those wanting to pay their respect and for commemorations.

A further concern was to ensure the intended use of the building was appropriate given its proximity of the war memorial.

In the town clerk’s latest report it says he has sought further details of the property being offered for sale.

But it adds: ’It is accepted by the department that the war memorial is in the ownership of the Commission and that there will be an enduring right of access to it’.