The government has been accused of being discourteous to regional groups who had worked on regenerating towns and villages.

The accusation came in Tynwald as a new-look town and village regeneration scheme is set to make a return.

Local regeneration committees used to sit to consider projects that qualified for grants. But for years the government has not put aside any money, so they became redundant.

Under the new scheme, the Department for Enterprise will be at the heart of awarding grants and the local regeneration groups will not be required.

David Cretney MLC welcomed the new-look scheme but had criticism for the Howard Quayle administration.

He said: ’I, for some time, chaired the Douglas regeneration steering group and it became obvious after the last election that there was not the same enthusiasm for the make-up of that group that there had been previously.

’I accept the government can make up its new policies - that is obviously what governments are here to do.

’I feel, though, there has been a little discourtesy in terms of those members who came along and worked with us from the private sector, from local authorities, and others, because it has been a little bit up in the air for quite some time as to what their future role, if any, was going to be.’

The government has allocated £250,000 per year until 2022-23. The old scheme had no cap on awards, but the new one has a £10,000 limit.

Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly told Tynwald: ’The scheme will continue to support businesses, charities, sole traders and others to look to improve the external appearance of their premises - and also provide support to local authorities, traders’ associations and others seeking to improve the amenity of their towns and villages.’

But the scheme will not support ’major town centre projects’, which would come under capital projects.

He added: ’The scope of the scheme has been widened from small defined areas in a limited number of town centres, to support a greater number of businesses island-wide.

’Applicants in any area designated for town centre retail, tourism or business use can apply without them needing to be a specific regeneration zone.’

Tynwald members approved unanimously the introduction of the new scheme.