A number of Laxey residents have set up a group opposing a sewage proposal for the village.

Using the name ’Best Environmental Sewage Treatment’ (BEST), the group agrees that a sewage solution in Laxey is needed to improve the quality of sea water.

However, it thinks Manx Utilities’ plan of introducing Integral Rotating Biological Contactors (IRBC) treatment units is not the way to go.

Speaking after the group’s first meeting on Monday, spokesman Mark Buttery said: ’Something needs to be done, but the group wants it to be the best possible solution for the water that’s coming out.

’We want it to be the same as Castletown, Port Erin and Derbyhaven, which has the Integration and Recycling of the Island’s Sewage (IRIS) scheme. The quality is better.’

An IRBC is a plant where all treatment processes on sewage are contained within one unit and effluent is discharged to a watercourse with settled solids taken away.

As for the IRIS system, sewage is pumped to the Meary Veg plant and dried with the pelletised remains taken to the Energy From Waste plant.

Currently Laxey waste water is drained into a storage tank on the northern side of the harbour. It flows untreated into the sea just beyond the harbour wall via an outfall pipe.

Manx Utilities’ plans - to be submitted - are part of its Regional Sewage Treatment Strategy. The new facility would occupy the former holiday chalet site, at the north of the harbour. To access the site, a bridge would be constructed downstream of the replacement Old Laxey bridge.

The group is concerned about odours, the amount of truckers emptying the sewerage every day and other issues. It also questions whether the IRBC plant would remove all ’harmful bacteria’, which swimming groups and children could be exposed to.

Manx Utilities states truckers would use Minorca Hill daily outside school opening, closing and lunch times. It added: ’Laxey works will have UV treatment installed and thus it is envisaged will also provide an excellent treatment process equal or exceeding that of Meary Veg.’