The government recognises the importance of sporting facilities, Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas has pledged, amid fears they could be lost to make way for housing.

Maps were published as part of the a ’preliminary publicity consultation’ on the Draft Area Plan for the East of the island, and showed large areas of land were earmarked as having potential for development, prompting concern at the possible loss of sports fields and recreation grounds.

But Mr Thomas said: ’I can give a commitment that recreation and sporting facilities are important to government.’

The draft plan will cover Douglas, Onchan, Braddan, Lonan, Laxey, Marown and Santon.

The overall Strategic Plan for the island identified a need for 5,100 more houses between 2011 and 2026, with 2,440 of those suggested for the east.

Some of those homes have been built already, but a public meeting earlier this week - attended by a number of MHKs - heard fears that sports pitches could be swallowed up.

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) raised the issue in the House of Keys on Tuesday. Mr Thomas stressed preparation work on the draft plan would not even start until after the consultation.

’The consultation material that has been published makes clear that work is ongoing to better understand existing sport and leisure facilities and public open space provision in the east,’ he said.

’One of the questions posed is about what new or improved community facilities would be of benefit.

’It will be necessary and appropriate to consider both current provision and what future provision should be and consideration will be given to factors like size, location of facilities and type required.’

Mr Baker pressed further, saying a number of areas including sports facilities were earmarked for potential business or residential use. He sought a commitment that, if lost, other land would be made available for their replacement.

The minister said the Strategic Plan itself stipulates that development resulting in the loss of a community facility should only be permitted where alternative provision of equivalent community benefit is made available or where there would be no significant effect from the loss of open space.

Clare Bettison (Douglas East) suggested using the planning law that allows for a condition of approval to be attached, obliging the developer to provide facilities.

Mr Thomas said every individual planning application would have to be approved on its merit.

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