Tynwald is being asked to support a public inquiry into a potential land grab by Port Erin.

Port Erin Commissioners has applied to extend the village’s boundary to include the whole of the Ballakilley estate.

The Commissioners argue the extension will overcome an ’iniquitous’ situation, in which more houses - 90 when plans were first drawn up - are in Port Erin, but pay considerably higher rates than the 66 houses on the Rushen parish side of the boundary, despite them all using the same services.

But Rushen Commissioners has resisted the move saying it is land grabbing to generate more income.

Tynwald approval is required for a public inquiry to be held.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer will table a motion at next week’s Tynwld sitting that will give the chairman of the inquiry power to call witnesses to give evidence under oath.

The move will create antagonism between the two authorities. Port Erin has been pushing for extension of the boundary since the estate was built in 2013.

In February, Rushen issued a statement calling on Port Erin to drop its proposal saying the move is ’antagonistic’.

Rushen Commissioners’ chairman Peter Gunn explained: ’This will be the fourth time in a generation that Port Erin has sought a boundary extension.

’On all previous occasions (boundary extensions) affected property owners have seen very significant increases in their annual rate bills but only a limited improvement in services offered.

Rates rise

’Residents who have just moved in to the new Ballakilley development in Rushen would see their rates more than doubled if the Port Erin move succeeds.’

He added: ’Unfortunately, the rate money from Port Erin’s three previous boundary extensions, which could have helped Rushen improve services in the parish, appears to have been spent instead on expanding Port Erin’s administration functions rather than improving services.’

The extension bid prompted Rushen Commissioners to make its own boundary extension bid and reclaim land at Bradda, which became part of Port Erin 50 years ago.

Rushen and Port Erin had discussed the best way to provide services to the new Ballakilley estate ’and we agreed to explore opportunities to work together in the best interests of the new resident,’ said Mr Gunn.

’A few days later Port Erin, without explanation, informed us of their intention to seek to take the new development from us.

’It is hard for us to understand or indeed have confidence in a neighbour which operates in such a disingenuous way.

’Port Erin could walk away from this now, by withdrawing this insensitive proposal and avoid all the cost and ill-feeling that a boundary extension inquiry will generate.’

Rushen Parish Commissioners’ clerk Phil Gawne and chairman Peter Gunn were unavailable for comment on the Tynwald order paper at the time of going to press.