Planners have put the skids on a Christmas ice rink at Tynwald Mills this year.

Millstreams Ltd (trading as Tynwald Mills IoM Ltd) has applied (17/00915/B) for permission to erect a temporary marquee on part of its overflow car park, for 60 days.

The timeframe would allow for 30 days of operating the ice rink, with two weeks either side to put up and dismantle the rink and marquee.

Tynwald Mills Ltd has operated a temporary ice rink at the St John’s complex during the Christmas period over the past five years.

But its planning application has been refused on the grounds that it would be contrary to the local plan and strategic plan as the site is designated as countryside.

Citing a previous appeal, the officer noted: ’The inspector recognised that the marquee would help attract customers, but he felt that these factors were insufficient to outweigh the clear policy objection to the development.

’No evidence has been submitted that would seek to overcome the reason for refusal.’

German Parish Commissioners did not object to the ice rink so long as it was for the Christmas period only.

But residents of nearby Mill House claimed the site had grown too much. ’The area is countryside which should be peace and quiet except for sheep and cows,’ they said.

Store manager Claire Britnell said: ’The team at Tynwald Mills are very disappointed that our planning application to deliver the popular Christmas ice rink has been rejected.

’We intend to appeal this decision and are taking advice. We are not hopeful - the project in recent years has been dogged by red tape.

’We are disappointed because we can see how popular the facility was. We have successfully operated the Christmas ice rink for five years investing each time to improve the facilities and raising thousands for local good causes.’

She added: ’There seems to be no planning policy for out of the box thinking.’

A Christmas ice rink was first launched at Tynwald Mills in 2013.

In November 2015 a retrospective application was submitted for the erection of a marquee for a period of five years for promotional events, charity functions, and leisure activities including an ice rink and roller skating.

But the application was refused by the planning committee and that decision was upheld on appeal, on the grounds of unwarranted development in the countryside, road safety, and unacceptable and un-neighbourly noise levels.