A Manx family has written to two government ministers to complain at how their planning application has been handled.

Catherine Howarth and her sister Liz are seeking approval in principle for erection of two homes on an inherited plot of land at Ballacraine, which had been in her family’s ownership since the 1920s.

The application (18/00758/A) has been refused by the planning committee on highway safety grounds relating to the proposed access, and because it would result in the loss of elm trees.

An earlier very similar application by her late mother Mary Quayle had been approved by the planning committee but then rejected on appeal, following objections from residents.

Now Mrs Howarth, who lives in Liverpool, has appealed and has written to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer and Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot to complain about the ’inconsistent’ advice she claims she has been given by highway services.

She said from her home in Liverpool: ’Although I no longer live in the island, I visit regularly and see large developments that put a strain on ageing infrastructure, all of which appear to be granted planning permission without the difficulties we, a Manx family, are having.’

She explained that she and her sister inherited the plot of land at Ballacraine in 2016. Their father, Herbert Quayle, was born and raised in St John’s and farmed Ballaleece Farm for many years.

’We are trying to get planning permission for two houses which my sister, who still lives on the island, in Douglas, and I hope eventually to retire to,’ she said.

’The land is zoned for development. However, both my mother who first applied in 2014 and ourselves have been refused permission due to issues raised by highway services.’

She said her mother Mary was first refused permission in December 2014 and highway services suggested that they commission a review by an independent traffic expert. They spent £2,156 on that survey for the new application, only for it to be refused again.

’We have spent thousands of pounds on the advice of highway services which has changed in the time it took for our report to be submitted,’ she said, claiming she later found out the advice came not from permanent DoI employees but contractors from the UK.

German Commissioners and two neighbours objected to the plans. Highways services said there was inadequate access visibility. The planning committee concluded: ’The proposal is considered to be detrimental to highway safety and would result in the loss of trees which would be detrimental to the character of the streetscene.’