Battles began this week to save two landmark buildings.

The two buildings under threat of being knocked down are the Cosy Nook cafe in Port Erin and old former The Trafalgar pub on South Quay in Douglas.

Port Erin Commissioners last week voted for the now vacant Cosy Nook’s demolition - a move which won by five votes to three.

Yesterday, Rushen Heritage Trust announced it was opposing the move.

And the Speaker of the House of Keys Juan Watterson (Rushen) has written to Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot to say: ’Whilst the building is not rare in its own right, being a Manx build stone cottage from c.1840, it is unusual from a cultural perspective as part of the early development of Port Erin. There are not many buildings of this vintage in Port Erin. It is part of the port’s "origin story".’

Mr Watterson went on to say that landmark qualities of the Cosy Nook ’may be unique in the British Isles’, combining a heritage building, unique views, outdoor eating and near a street ’with a strong heritage story.’

Meanwhile, the site of what was The Trafalgar public house on South Quay, Douglas, is also heading towards a similar fate.

The pub closed its doors in February 2010, with a planning application to convert the building into five flats, a wine bar, offices, shops and a gym submitted last year by South Quay Commercial Limited. The application was permitted but building has not gone ahead.

Objections to the demolition of the former pub have been put forward by Manx Heritage Foundation’s Charles Guard, and businessman and Arts Aid charity member, David Wertheim.

Both have written a letter to Mr Boot, Tynwald members, planning officers and Culture Vannin, to say that demolition works began on Saturday (December 12) at the adjacent warehouses to the Trafalgar.

They wrote: ’No method statement was filed as part of the planning application in relation to the demolition works and the necessary protections of the adjacent Trafalgar building. No protections have been put into place and nor apparently have any other steps been taken to protect the Trafalgar or to ensure it does not suffer damage.’

The letter then goes on to say that under the Town and Country Planning Act 1999, if a building is not a registered one, the owner or occupier may be served a building preservation notice.

They added: ’We request that you take immediate steps to serve such a notice in respect of the very historic Trafalgar building and that the registration process also be progressed forthwith.’

l See letters, page 18.