Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse has raised concerns about the hazard of a damaged walkway at the end of Douglas promenade.

In April 2020 Mr Moorhouse noticed that the concrete underneath the promenade railing, roughly opposite Summerland, had fallen into the sea.

Concerned after ’watching in horror’ as a toddler almost fell through the gap, Mr Moorhouse said he contacted the Department of Infrastructure, after which metal safety barriers were placed around the collapsed section of the promenade.

However, earlier this month he noticed that the metal fencing had suddenly been removed - and so again contacted the DoI, soon after which it was returned.

However, when he later went back to check, only three, upside-down barriers were placed next to the hole, which he said resembled ’a piece of modern art strewn across the promenade walkway.’

More fencing has since been added which cordons off a square area around the hole, but the damage still remains.

When Mr Moorhouse raised the issue in Tynwald last Wednesday, he said that Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker’s response was ’wholly inappropriate’ and ’gave the clear impression that he was not aware of the situation, again attempting to make a serious concern almost comical.’

Mr Moorhouse referred to the concerns he raised last April, and the disapperance of the fencing, and asked: ’Why was this safety fencing removed, in the first case; and when will that dangerous section of walkway be made safe?’

Minister Baker replied: ’Frankly I have no idea about the precise detail in response to Mr Moorhouse’s question, but I am really delighted to know that it is finally being fixed.

’Perhaps if he had flagged it..I think he said it was April 2020.

’It is now February 2021. If he had raised this question a little bit earlier, I could have followed it up, but I am really pleased to know that it has now been resolved.’

Mr Moorhouse then clarified that the damage was still there, and that the DoI Minister and chief executive officer Nick Black were now aware of that.

Asked again when it would be looked at, Mr Baker responded: ’I will be very happy if Mr Moorhouse gives me the precise location of which part of Douglas prom - which, as we were talking about yesterday, is over two miles long.

’If he were to give a precise point, I would quite happily walk down with him and have a look at it myself.’

Tynwald President Stephen Rodan assured Mr Moorhouse that: ’We are not belittling what could be a serious situation.’

He acknowledge that the Minister and Mr Black had been made aware of the damage on two occasions, and yet it remains dangerous.

Mr Moorhouse told the Manx Independent that he would raise the issue again in Tynwald next Tuesday.