Some 150 people packed into Bride Methodist church hall to discuss £3.5m development plans for Glen Truan golf course.

Businessman John Morphet’s Pure Leisure Group has submitted a planning application to build 55 holiday lodges on part of the course (17/00956/B).

The application also seeks consent to convert and extend existing farm buildings to create a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar and to convert a barn into a pro-shop and changing rooms.

But concerns were raised at a requisition meeting held last Thursday about concerns over the potential impact on the environment, given the development’s close proximity to the Ayres nature reserve.

A spokesman for the Save the Ayres campaign said it was a ’totally inappropriate development in a totally inappropriate location’.

The meeting was chaired by Edgar Cowin, Captain of the parish of Ballaugh, who was on the stage with MHKs Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael), Alex Allinson (Ramsey) and Rob Callister (Onchan).

Mr Morphet was not invited to attend Thursday night’s public meeting but says he will be available to answer questions at tonight’s meeting organised by Bride Commissioners. Responding to the concerns, he said: ’Let’s not forget that not many years ago Glen Truan was a sand and gravel quarry.

’The new development at Glen Truan will not have an adverse effect on wildlife. On the contrary, the project will enhance and protect the habitat for existing wildlife and attract new species. It is intended to achieve the equivalent of the David Bellamy gold award status for conservation.’

Mr Morphet said he believed there was a lot of misinformation being put out.

He said: ’A misinformed few have jumped to the conclusion the development will be bad for the Bride area and the Isle of Man in general without hearing or considering all the facts.

’It is always the case that those who feel strongly against something shout louder than those who believe an idea to be good. A number of residents have spoken to me personally to express their support.’

Mr Morphet rejected the idea this was a housing development. He said: ’This is a development of an existing leisure facility. It will provide a viable future for the golf course.

’The holiday lodges will only be available for holiday use and people will not be able to purchase with a view to making it their permanent home.’