The controversial approach taken over plans to sell Ramsey Courthouse and accompanying land has been a success - according to Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey.

Tynwald question time was dominated by the issue. Along with Mr Malarkey, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan, Attorney General John Quinn and chairman of War Memorials Committee David Cretney were all pulled into the row.

The issue blew up after the courthouse was put on the open market for an asking price of £475,000, which, it was confirmed during Tuesday’s sitting, was significantly higher than that given by the government valuer last year.

Mr Malarkey defended the process the department had adopted in seeking a buyer. The department has been accused by Ramsey Commissioners of keeping them in the dark - something Mr Malarkey rejects.

’The process is in line with government regulations,’ Mr Malarkey told Tynwald.

’No decision has been taken at this time as to what is going to happen to Ramsey Courthouse or the land.

’This has been an exercise of testing the water and testing whether there is interest. As far as I am concerned it has been extremely successful - and it has been extremely successful for the commissioners.

’We both have a clear direction of what people want.’

Attorney General John Quinn said that there were no covenants in place that could restrict any sale of the courthouse building and the land

Nor were there any formal public rights of way, he told Tynwald.

He added that a covenant and guarantee of public rights of way could be written into any deal with a successful bidder for the land.

Mr Cannan, in reply to a question from Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey), confirmed the price suggested by the government valuer last year was £400,000, but also pointed out that circumstances could have changed since that valuation was placed on it.

The commissioners plan to submit a bid of just under £400,000.

Mr Quinn, when called upon to advise, said he interpreted the government regulations on the disposal of public property did not prevent the government selling property at above the market value given by the government valuer, but may preclude a department from selling at below that valuation.

In a written answer to a further question, Mr Cannan said there were expressions of interest from other government departments wanting to keep the building.

Consequently, the Strategic Asset Management Unit ’concluded that there was no strategic case for retaining the asset for government purposes’.

----------------------------

Deal won’t affect war memorial

Mr Malarkey promised there would be no adverse impact on the war memorial, or access to it, from any deal.

Under questioning from Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael), Mr Malarkey gave a promise ’that the war memorial will be protected and the rights of way will be protected, no matter who the next owner of Ramsey courthouse will be’.

Mr Baker said any deal with the commercial sector would ’represent the privatisation of the heart of Ramsey’.

But Mr Malarkey said: ’It is a public area and I think it will always be a public area.’

David Cretney, chairman of the War Memorials Committee, told Tynwald he had been comforted by public comments from Chief Minister Howard Quayle earlier in the week, when he said the war memorial would be protected and would not be sold as part of any deal for the courthouse and surrounding land.

’If the chief minister makes those comments, I think we should respect that is his intention, but we will obviously robustly make sure that he does.’

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan was pressed by several members whether the cultural and social importance of a building was considered during the sale process.

He said market value was just one part.

In terms of the courthouse, he added: ’At all times, the views of the commissioners will be taken into consideration and the value of the property will be informed by the marketing of the property.

’No offer will be accepted that does not protect the surrounding land and war memorial.’

l Manx Independent comment and letters, p18