Dandara Contracting Ltd has applied for planning permission (21/00731/B) to build a new eastern civic amenity site at Middle Park in Braddan.

Each of the local authorities that use the site will foot a proportion of the bill of around £3 million.

The 1.4-hectare site, next to the energy from waste plant (the incinerator), would be publicly owned and operated by the Joint Eastern Civic Amenity Site Committee, on behalf of which Dandara is applying.

This committee consists of representatives of the five local authorities which will use these sites - Douglas, Braddan, Onchan, Santon and Garff.

The site’s current use is for the recycling and storage of stone and other demolition materials.

It will serve as the replacement for the existing amenity site at Middle River, by Pulrose Bridge in Douglas - which is used by around half the island’s population.

The lease on this site is set to expire this year.

The new facility will provide for the disposal of domestic waste and recycling, and will include the same basic features as the existing tip - a vehicle weighbridge, site office, re-use shed, skips and parking facilities.

Its planned summer opening hours would be Monday to Saturday from 8am to 7pm, and Sundays and Bank Holidays from 8am to 4pm.

During winter, it would be open from 8am to 4pm.

An accompanying planning statement describes one of the proposal’s aims as being to reduce the amount of waste which passes directly to the energy from waste plant.

It also cited the present Middle River site as having been seen to be operating at, or over its capacity, which causes problems with traffic flows and congestion.

Chairman of Braddan Commissioners Andrew Jessop said that the new site had purpose-built facilities.

Mr Jessop also noted that there would be more facilities for recycling.