The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has refused to deregister the Cosy Nook on Shore Road in Port Erin.

The Board of Port Erin Commissioners had appealed to get the building’s protected status removed.

They have now lodged an appeal against the decision, stating they want to ’best protect the interests of the rate payers in Port Erin.’

The commissioners had engaged in lengthy discussions and had a meeting with the Registered Buildings Officer before the decision was made.

In a statement shared to its Facebook page, the commissioners said: ’Whilst the Board resolution was not unanimous, it was agreed that the appeal will grant additional time to work with the Registered Buildings Officer over the period of the appeal towards an agreeable, workable, and cost effective proposal.

’Should an agreeable proposal be reached, the Board would consider withdrawing its appeal.

’Should the Board not have lodged an appeal, it would not have been possible to apply to deregister the Cosy Nook for a further five years, which has the potential to affect progress with the project.’

The board have not resubmitted the proposals originally submitted in June 2020 via its application PA 20/00598/B, which would have seen the commissioners build an art deco style building in place of the existing Cosy Nook building.