The plan for the major housing and bypass development at Ballasalla has provoked objections.

The proposal, 19/00137/B by Dandara is for 282 dwellings and a new bypass to be developed on land between Douglas Road and the rear of Railway Terrace. It includes a new roundabout on Douglas Road and a bridge across the steam railway line.

Resident Dave McWilliams objected in the ’strongest possible way’.

He said: ’This road ... is going to be nothing more than a link road to serve the houses put up by avarice (sic) inconsiderate developers. Ballasalla does not need three or 600 dwellings.’

He said 1,300 homes were required in the southern area plan in the mid 1990s and that number has been exceeded. He is concerned the storm water and sewage for the village was 25% overloaded when the area plan was done and says any further developments will exacerbate this problem.

He added: ’Please leave Ballasalla alone and do not wreck the heart of the village that is such a close-knit community.’

He is also concerned about the loss of shops and impact on elderly people. He added: ’The hospital, our doctor’s surgery will not be able to handle such an influx of people.’

Another resident is concerned about the impact on her property - on Balthane Road - and the lack of clarity in the drawings.

She pointed out the bypass ’will create high levels of noise, particularly for those properties adjacent to the road itself.’

Hedgerows and trees ’help absorb the sound due to the dynamics of this area’ and should be preserved for minimising sound, aesthetic quality and rich biodiversity.

She added: ’As a UNESCO ... and the biosphere designated site we should be aiming to safeguard natural and managed ecosystems and being environmentally sustainable, not make rash decisions for the financial benefit of developers.’

This is not an application to build a bypass, wrote another resident, ’it is an application to build around 350 dwellings with associated access roads.’

He said the proposal does not include the additional 70 homes to be built in phase three of the overall development. He added the bypass should not be an access road to residential homes. And he described the T-junction that would be created as a ’recipe for serious consequences’.

Buses will also go through the village and there will be problems for them at the roundabout and during rush hour significant congestion.’ he said.

The proposal should include the whole development and the whole project is ’fatally flawed in that it will merely shift the morning commuter traffic problems, while also adding huge numbers of vehicles trying to use the very same roads,’ the objector added.

There are also concerns about the visual impact on Ballabridson Park. There will be an impact on noise and light pollution. Also until the bypass is built traffic in Ballasalla will be increased.

A further objector said: ’It is debatable how many drivers travelling south will choose to use the bypass road - surely those going to Ballabeg, Colby etc will continue to use Douglas Road rather than extend their journey using the new road.’

The drainage department at Manx Utilities have asked for a deferral of any decisions while they review the bid.