An inquiry will take place this month into the possible closure of a public lane in Bradda Glen Close, Port Erin.

The lane runs through the site of a proposed care home at Spaldrick House.

It needs to be removed from public use in order for Spaldrick Care Limited’s development to proceed.

The inquiry will take place at Port Erin Commissioners’ office in Bridson Street on November 27 at 10am.

At Tusday’s meeting, commissioners’ clerk Jason Roberts explained the inquiry - which is independent of the commissioners - is being held at their office because it is convenient for interested parties.

Commissioner Adrian Tinkler said if the lane is not closed it would ’put the kibosh’ on the plan.

The plan (7/00947/B )for the 72-bedroom residential care home is controversial.

Port Erin Commissioners had objected to the proposal, saying it represented ’over-intensive use of the site’, along with a total of 28 individuals, couples and families.

Planners originally turned down the bid saying ’the proposed building fails to respect the site and surroundings in terms of its siting, layout, scale, form, design and would therefore represent over-development’. But the application was approved at appeal.

Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot delegated responsibility to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer to determine the appeal.

Mr Harmer followed the planning inspector’s recommendation that the appeal be allowed and the department’s original refusal be reversed.

One of the objections concerned the loss of the lane, a public highway, that runs through the site.

’It seems to me that the modest benefits of retaining this highway would probably be outweighed by the social and economic advantages that would be secured,’ planning inspector Michael Hurley said.

Residents had explained it was used as an alternative means of access to Bradda Glen Close.