Opening up an empty site to cars on Lord Street in Douglas would provide relief to the parking problem in the capital, according to the council leader.

David Christian says he welcomes the developer’s plans to operate a private car park at the former bus station.

The developer, Kane Limited. is behind the plans for the £25m Quayside North project, which includes an 80-bedroom Travelodge hotel, seven-screen Omniplex cinema, bar, restaurant and cafe units, 20 flats and about 300 car parking spaces.

But it wants the area there to revert to a car park until it begins development.

However, the government has yet to give permission for the land’s temporary change of use.

Mr Christian said: ’It has been made clear that, certainly for this year, we are not going to see any development on that site.

’From the council’s point of view the area should be operated as a car park for the time being, even though that’s in competition with some of our car parks.

’Many people feel very aggrieved when they drive past a large open space that has been a car park for the best part of 30 years and now it’s just closed off and nobody is allowed to use it.’

A decision to ban parking on the North Quay to boost businesses there in the evening will arguably make the parking problem in the area more acute.

But Mr Christian has backed that decision.