Two MHKs have backed residents’ calls for action to be taken over conditions in flats in central Douglas.

Douglas Central MHKs Ann Corlett and Chris Thomas said that the time has come for a decision to be made over the future of the Lord Street flats.

The Manx Independent contacted Mrs Corlett and Mr Thomas after last week’s front page report on conditions in the flats which saw part of a ceiling in the communal corridor in Athol block fall onto resident Keith Mourant.

Mr Mourant said the state of the flats was ’just terrible’.

He added: ’There is damp and black mould. The bathrooms have no windows so there is no real air circulation in them.

’These flats should have come down years ago. They are a health risk but there is nowhere else for people to go.’

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted Isle of Man Newspapers after seeing Mr Mourant’s story. She said the Derby block she lives in has problems with damp and criticised Douglas Council’s lack of action.

She added: ’Repairs take ages and you have to keep at them, landings have become unsafe with scaffolding holding up some of them. The flats are a joke but you can’t get out because you can’t swap. No one wants to move here.’

Mrs Corlett and Mr Thomas both said they believe the time has come for Douglas Council to make a decision over the flats and commit to either an extensive refurbishment or to demolish and replace them. The MHKs have also committed to meeting residents to discuss their concerns with the buildings.

Mr Thomas said: ’Both options are sizeable capital projects, will need a multi-year schedule and will involve re-housing. Lord Street air quality is one environmental health issue that also needs to be taken into account.

’In-town housing needs to be designed around traffic noise and air quality, and it suits the right people.

’Having a garden for toddlers might be tricky, but access to Douglas life is walkable.’

Mrs Corlett questioned whether people are fully aware of the conditions of the flats, adding: ’The council simply don’t have the quantity of houses that would be needed to move everyone out. And it would require a lot of money, which would have to come from somewhere.

’But we simply can’t have people in conditions like that.’

A Douglas Council spokesman said there are 131 flats in Lord Street in total, including Quine’s Corner, Hanover House and Coronation Terrace. All of the flats are occupied, with the exception of two one-bedroom flats, which have been deemed unfit for occupation.

When asked what plans the council has for social housing in central Douglas, a spokesman said: ’The council has a number of options which it is considering for the creation of new social housing in the town centre and all will involve considerable investment.’