Supporters of the Douglas Bay horse tramway are lobbying the Infrastructure Minister to commit to retaining the entire length of the line.

An update on the Promenade scheme posted on MyProm last week - and still online as the Examiner went to press - revealed that the horse tramway would now terminate at the War Memorial, with the decision made to remove the planned single track section to the Sea Terminal.

The Department of Infrastructure later said the MyProm site was ’incorrect’.

It said the intention is for the horse tram track to reach Broadway at least by the end of March 2021 and work required to install the line further south is planned to be completed ’in due course’.

DoI Minister Ray Harmer last week told Tynwald: ’Completion of the horse trams is delayed not cancelled.’

But he has failed to convince enthusiasts behind Douglas Bay Horse Tramway Online who have launched a ’Loch Promenade now not later’ campaign.

They’ve urged supporters to lobby the Minister to get the track along Loch Promenade installed this year.

’The historic horse tramway has served the full length of the Douglas Promenades for 143 years from the Sea Terminal to Derby Castle.

’It should continue to do so,’ they said.

One of those who is begging Mr Harmer to reconsider is June Cobley of Beeston, Nottinghamshire. She said: ’You do not seem to be taking visitors into account and will be cutting short one of the top attractions you have.’

In his email to the Minister, William Arnett of Coventry wrote: ’I was both disappointed and astonished to discover that the reconstruction of the horse tramway is to be curtailed to a point near Broadway.

’Surely it would make more sense and cost less to continue this work along Loch Promenade while the personnel and equipment are already on site.’

Jonathan Wornham, of Onchan, emailed Mr Harmer to say: ’The reason given for delaying the re-instatement of the line to the Sea Terminal, to avoid disruption to companies operating on the promenade, really doesn’t hold water.

’Surely now is the time to push ahead with the scheme. The businesses are already disrupted, let us get this project completed now and not (maybe) in a few years.

’Let’s throw all resources into this and get the whole promenade project finished in 2020 then we can hopefully return to normal in 2021.’

Andrew Faragher, who lives in the south of the island, agreed. He told the Minister: ’The horse trams are a major tourist attraction so let’s do the job properly and not let them terminate halfway across the promenade which will be a big mistake.’

Letters: Page 18