The Department of Infrastructure’s impact assessment of the cureent promenade revamp is a ’live document’, Minister Ray Harmer has insisted.

With work on the multi-million pound redevelopment of the promenade in full swing, the level of disruption has come in for criticism both in terms of traffic movement, lack of parking and the impact the work is having upon businesses in the area.

Work began last September and is scheduled to last just under two years.

In the House of Keys last week, Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) tabled a written question asking Mr Harmer to publish the impact assessments in relation to the work.

The minister, in his reply, stated: ’The department has produced a project impact assessment for the Douglas promenade refurbishment and this remains a live document throughout the construction of the works.

’This is a general assessment to be inclusive of all impacts, and not specifically aimed at any one area - i.e. specific individual business impact.’

He said the document was updated regularly and added the DOI was ’working closely’ with the Department for Enterprise, ’developing various initiatives to assist with businesses directly and significantly impacted by the refurbishment works’.

An example of how the impact assessment rates things comes with traffic management, which is rated as ’medium impact’ on businesses.

The problems highlighted include:

’Loss of parking will prevent direct vehicular access to businesses.

’Loss of trade.

’Drop off and pick up of visitors to businesses restricted.

’Difficulties for deliveries may mean delays in deliveries or longer distances for operators to deliver by hand.’

The impact assessment offers up the following ’mitigation measures’:

’Signage to advertise businesses open as usual, media release.

’Good PR to support local businesses.

’Early communication with businesses to agree mitigation plans.

’Longer working hours.

’Loading bays where possible.

’Tell businesses about rate rebate.

’Work with DfE to support badly affected businesses.’

However the effect of traffic management on the emergency services is listed as ’high impact’ due to longer response times.

For property owners, traffic management is seen as ’low impact’. The problems highlighted are:

’Access restrictions to property, service deliveries, waste collections.

’Loss of available on-street parking during construction.’

The mitigation measures listed are:

’Well defined diversion routes.

’Pre-assessment of diversion route condition and carry out repairs.

’"Red Route" ban on road works on approved diversion routes.’

The assessment acknowledges that access restrictions will have a ’high impact’ on residents with a disability. It lists access ’maintained at all times’ as a mitigation.

The possibility of property damage is seen as ’medium impact’. The mitigation measures include a ’pre-condition survey of properties’ and ’good site management’.