A businessman wants to build a new attraction for youngsters.

Stephen Woodward plans to build a hover cart racing venue in Ballasalla.

He has applied for planning permission to convert a unit at the Balthane Industrial Estate.

In his application, Mr Woodward says he plans to run a circuit that could operate with up to five carts at a time and wants to attract children aged six to 16.

The carts in question are in essence a hover board with an attachment that provides the user with a handle to push forward and stop the cart.

As part of the application, Mr Woodward wants to build toilet facilities, including a disabled toilet and baby-changing facility and a seated waiting area with either a small cafe or vending machines.

He said: ’At this moment in time I’m unsure which it will be as I am in talks with a caterer to see if they are interested in running the cafe.’

The planned opening hours would be Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm during the summer and 9am to 7pm on weekends with an earlier closing time during the winter.

While there are bus stops close to the entrance to Balthane Industrial Estate, Mr Woodward said he believes that it is more likely that children would be dropped off by their parents arriving by car.

As such he is seeking to add to the current ’good’ parking availability outside and he said the owner of the building has told him he can clear the waste ground opposite the unit to add more parking.

Mr Woodward said his inspiration for his application came from a visit with his children to Chill Factory near Manchester, which has a similar facility.

He added: ’My girls absolutely loved it and although they are eight and five, they took to it immediately.

’I just wished there was something like it in the island. So I thought, "well I wonder if I could open up such a centre in the island".

’I just know there would be a call for it as there is not a great deal of this type of recreational activity in the Isle of Man.’

The planning application number is 19/00018/B.