The Ballannette Trust’s new nature reserve in Laxey has had to close, in order to comply with planning regulations.

The trust said this was as a result of ’a complaint by 11 residents of Agneash’.

The Isle of Man Examiner previously reported on the development of the nature reserve, which lies some distance below Agneash, behind Laxey’s Salmon Centre.

The 40-acre nature reserve was opened to the public in May, but now signs adorn its gates saying it is closed.

One of the signs, which stated the closure was due to the complaints, was torn down by someone who claimed it was ’factually incorrect’.

From its conception, the nature reserve was opposed by some Agneash residents, who wished to remain anonymous, and who had claimed it was resulting in ’devastating damage to the fields [near Agneash], completely removing all vegetation and wildlife habitats’.

Stewart Clague, of the trust, pointed out that the nature reserve was partly sited on the old Laxey tip, and developing it involved removing five rusted vehicles and bottles dating back to the 1950s.

He also noted that the other empty fields which encompass the nature reserve had lain disused for decades, having previously been ravaged by fires.

consultation

He also stressed that the work had been undertaken in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture and UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man.

When the project began in March, some Agneash residents had initially questioned the need for such a reserve, and what nature could be seen in empty agricultural fields. However, Mr Clague said that many of the opposed residents were now in favour having seen the end result of the completed works - with meadows of sown wildflowers and picnic areas.

Other Agneash residents expressed their support of the nature reserve from the outset.

Mr Clague told the Examiner: ’Because an anonymous group of people objected to the project which is now complete and being enjoyed by the public, we have been asked by the planning department to supply retrospective plans of the area.

’We are now in discussion with planning as the cost of plans are quoted as several thousand pounds.

’The alternative we are told would be to return the land to its original state, the tip.

’Obviously we can’t do this so we have decided to return the land to how we think it was before it was a 1950s tip.’

He continued: ’We are temporarily closing the area till we sort things out with the planning department - who we must admit are being most helpful.’

He added that nothing had been built, and the works had only involved landscaping.

Mr Clague had initially acquired the land to control the water flow upriver of the Ballacregga Corn Mill, after the 2015 Laxey floods.

However, he said that after seeing the scenic views offered by the elevated fields over the Snaefell valley, he decided that the land should be turned into a nature reserve - similar to the trust’s other reserve in Baldrine.