Residents of Newtown, in Santon, will have another chance to state their case to the public inquiry into the area plan for the east.

Chairman of the inquiry Michael Hurley decided that the two hours allotted for evidence to be heard about Newtown was not sufficient and agreed to return to the site at a later date.

Before the inquiry agreed to adjourn, Mr Hurley heard evidence from a representative for Santon residents Guy Templer.

The sites are SH013 and SH010 in the draft area plan, just south of Mount Murray. The main site is accessed from Clannagh Road, which joins on to the New Castletown Road.

Mr Templer set out objections which focused on whether there was a need for housing, protecting the countryside and concerns about traffic access for the site.

He told the inquiry that unlike many other sites being looked at in the area plan, Newtown is outside of the active travel zone, meaning it will almost certainly lead to an increase in traffic on the main road between Douglas and the south.

Mr Templer said the government’s strategic plan provides a reason not to allow the development of potentially between 40 and 65 houses.

He said that environment policy one states ’the countryside and its ecology will be protected for its own sake’ unless there is a national need.

Mr Templer said he and his fellow residents maintain there is no need for the new housing as the Cabinet Office has lowered its own projection figures.

He added the development would result in a ’dramatic increase in the size of a very small village’.

He was also critical of how the new estate would be serviced by a road.

The A5 New Castletown Road has a 50mph limit which makes it difficult for residents in the existing Newtown estate to access at peak times.

Mr Templer and other residents conducted an information traffic survey that showed that in peak morning traffic, it takes each car an average of 28 seconds to pull out onto the main road. They believe more homes would exacerbate the problem and would necessitate the introduction of traffic lights or a roundabout.

The evidence for Newtown will be heard on Wednesday, October 2 at 9.30am at a venue yet to be confirmed.