The Department of Infrastructure’s proposals for tidal flood protection and quayside enhancement has sparked an angry response from the town commissioners, who say their views have been ignored.

Along with proposals for flood barriers along the length of West Quay, the scheme includes plans to improve the highway and enhance the overall area, as an extension of the town’s regeneration works.

At a private meeting with DoI representatives in February, the commissioners were unhappy with the design proposals and asked for further options.

As well as concerns over the loss of parking provision, they were particularly opposed to the use of granite flagstones that has proved problematic from a cleaning point of view in the regenerated area around the Courthouse.

At the monthly board meeting, Juan McGuinness said: ’How disappointing that they have taken no notice of what we said when we met them in February.

’If they were not interested in our views why did they ask for them?

’This granite they are proposing to use is horrible. You can’t clean it.

’This is a working harbour and we want to keep it that way, but this granite is porous and will absorb the oil and smells from the fishing boats’.

It was unanimously agreed to write to the department, reiterating the board’s views and expressing disappointment that their views had not been taken into account.

The government announced last year that it had set aside £60 million to spend on reducing the risk of flooding around Manx rivers.

Ramsey was identified as a top priority.

â?¢ The DoI’s draft scheme can be viewed on the commissioners’ website.