The old fire station in Castletown will be bought by the local authority.

Government has approved a loan to the authority of £200,000 over 30 years (with repayments of £8,389 a year totalling £251,678) to buy the station for £150,000 with £50,000 for further development of ’environmental improvements’.

The town centre fire station was vacated last year when the service moved to be based at Balthane industrial estate, Ballasalla.

The former station is a istrategic asset’ for the town, the authority said.

Its future use is still being decided.

They include chargeable car parking, a commercial use or an improved bus layby.

The authority ruled out developing the site as residences at present.

A report in June in Isle of Man Newspapers on the loan petition provoked several comments expressing concern there was no business plan for the building. One asked if it would be the town’s answer to Manxonia House in Port St Mary, which was bought by the authority in 2016 for £191,000.

After spending just under £270,000, including the purchase price, on its refurbishment and without the money to complete the project, the Port St Mary building was put up for sale for £295,000.

One said of the fire station, ’I fully support the purchase of this key strategic site by the local authority, but its use must be carefully considered to ensure any development is for the long term benefit of the town and its central facilities. This site could be a key to maximising the enhancement of the central part of the town where already there are considerable pressures regarding bus, coach and car parking facilities, this could unlock the problem.

’Charging for parking in the town would be a disaster for businesses unless all out-of-Douglas public car parks implement such a policy at the same time and at the same cost.

’t certainly will not make it easier to compete against the Tesco and B&Q outlets where parking is free!’

Another quipped it would be the perfect place for a Tesco Express store after the retailer lost a battle to open one in the town’s Malew Street.

We asked for an update on plans for its use, whether the authority would consult people on what they would like to see there, or ask for expressions of interest.

Commissioners’ clerk Hugo Macenzie said information ’is already in the public domain’.

Commissioners’ chairman Colin Leather could not be reached for comment.