Ramsey Commissioners has submitted a planning proposal to build a community sports hall at Mooragh Park.

The local authority has applied for approval to create a sports hall in the area next to the Vollan pump station.

In a letter submitted as part of the application, town clerk and chief executive Peter Whiteway explained: ’The commission has always sought to encourage the wider use of the area for sports and recreation and to extend the opportunities to all ages and abilities, and is proud of the view that the Mooragh Park provides one of the best recreation facilities in the island.

’The proposed community sports hall is seen as a natural extension of the facilities in this area.’

The proposal was made following assessment of 16 other sites in Ramsey.

Mr Whiteway said: ’The application is for approval in principle at this stage, subject to which further studies will be undertaken of existing facilities and consideration given to the detailed design and the range of sports which would be provided for within the final scheme.’

In the proposal, it states that the sports hall would be designed to meet the spatial standards of an indoor football pitch, with the range of facilities reaching measurements between 32m by 18m and 42m by 25m - with runoff.

The maximum height of the building would be at 7.6m to accommodate for club level badminton.

Showers, changing rooms and storage areas are also included in the application’s footprint.

Previously, the Mooragh estate had not been considered, as there was a risk of damaging an underground sewerage facility that was on site.

Instead, the commissioners made two applications for the development to be built in different locations within Ramsey.

A 2014 application to build the hall next to the Rugby Club Pavillion on Mooragh Promenade was refused and the proposal to have it developed in the land between Ramsey Park Hotel and the rugby pitch was withdrawn in 2015, which received objections from residents.

Objectors suggested that the sports hall should be built in the Leighany field or in the land below Mooragh Brooghs.

However, they are now in favour of the sports hall being built at the Mooragh estate since Manx Utilities have replaced the sewerage infrastructure, which has, in turn, improved the quality of water and electrical networks in the area.

The location also benefits from existing off-road parking with extra parking opportunities on the road.

Over the years, the commissioners have introduced a number of sporting facilities at Mooragh Park, including a rugby pitch and club, a skate park and a new swimming pool, as well as making improvements to the BMX track.