Ramsey commissioner Juan McGuinness has criticised the proposed look of new flood defences in Ramsey.

The Department of Infrastructure is displaying its plans for the town’s west and east quays.

Much like in Peel, Castletown and Douglas, the DoI is advocating using granite for its finishes, which critics in have said removes towns’ and villages’ unique characters.

Mr McGuinness said: ’While I welcome the intention to improve flood defences for the town and regenerate the Quayside the proposals in their current form remove far too much parking to be viable in my opinion. Personally I am not sure I want another granite aesthetic to turn Ramsey into another generic looking Isle of Man town, especially as the stones in the street are already starting to break up and are difficult to keep clean.

’The glass wall that is apparently self cleaning I have my cynical doubts over as well.’ He said he was also keen to hear the views of the fishermen and freight company Mezeron as ’Ramsey is a working harbour and it needs to be practical for them both when they’re unloading and also transporting to and from the harbourside’.

The DoI’s proposals for the reconstruction of the highway and footpaths (including flood defences and social areas) on Ramsey quayside are currently on display at Ramsey town hall during normal opening hours daily 8.45am to 4.30pm and 8.45am to 4pm on Fridays.

A member of the design team will be at the town hall on Friday between 10am and 2pm.