Ramsey Commissioners say that they are pleased to learn that interested party status has been extended.

It will allow such status to be granted to local authorities where a proposed development in an adjacent authority area would have a direct impact on the neighbouring authority.

It was a matter that was highlighted last year when the fact that Ramsey Commissioners did not have interested party status in relation to the proposed 5G Sure Mobile mast at Tower Farm prompted them to seek change.

The cluster of telecommunications masts at Tower Farm are in Maughold and for this reason the 5G application was sent to Garff Commissioners for comment.

Garff did not object and the planning application was approved. Ramsey, meanwhile, had no say in the planning matter, even though the mast would be clearly visible from the town.

They learned about the change when officers from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture visited Ramsey last month to talk about various alterations to the planning administrative process.

Board chairman Andy Cowie said it had been a very good meeting and there had been some ’very positive changes’.