Manx Utilities is set to use land at Glen Garwick for sewage management for Laxey and Baldrine after its previous two planning applications for sewage works were rejected.

A pumping station as well as other facilities will be required at this location, whether the solution be to do it locally or pump-away.

This was decided at a meeting held by the Garff Consultative Group in December where the constituency’s MHKs, commissioners and local interest groups met to discuss this step.

It forms the second phases of the Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy, focused on delivering first-time sewage treatment for Laxey, Baldrine and Peel.

This follows the embarrassing rejection of two planning applications for sewage works Peel and Laxey. In July 2020, plans for a one to be built at Breeze Hill in Laxey were rejected and not long after, in December 2020, Manx Utilities withdrew its application for a sewage works at Glenfaba in Patrick after an inspector recommended its refusal.

Chairman of Manx Utilities Rob Callister MHK said: ’Since the disappointing rejection of the previous planning applications, Manx Utilities has continued to work hard behind the scenes to progress the solution for Peel and Garff and much of the detailed work undertaken for the previous planning submissions remains valid to current considerations.

’The purchase of land at Glen Garwick puts Manx Utilities in the best position to move quickly both in this location and the Cairn site in Laxey as something has to be built in these locations, despite the final solution.

’We must be mindful that to publicise sites of interest would be disrespectful to landowners involved and ultimately be detrimental to the public purse. We are committed to submitting planning applications later this year with a proposed completion planned for late 2024.’