’State sponsored vandalism.’

That is how former Onchan MHK Peter Karran described the treatment of former homes on the Old Castletown Road near Douglas.

The Ivy Cottages were compulsorily purchased in 2007 following complaints by residents of disturbances including shaking caused by the IRIS sewage pumping system.

The properties were bought by the then Department of Transport and have since lain empty.

Mr Karran believes this was a mistake and that the cottages could have been put to use for another purpose.

He believes they could have been used as a disabled access cafe or shop, highlighting Auto Electrical as a commercial premises that operates within the area with seemingly no problems.

He said: ’Some people with disabilities have genuine problems getting into work and believe me they want to work and feel like they’re playing their part.

’A place like this would have been ideal to hand over to a charity and let them build a coffee shop or something.

’There’s parking, it’s a fairly busy road so it could have worked.’

Mr Karran believes that this is not the only empty government building and insists that all over the island unused properties are costing the taxpayers money and not being used in line with the governments commercial outlook.

He said: ’Howard Quayle has said the government needs to act commercially but yet stuff like this is happening all over the place.

’The island has paid out masses of money down the years on consultants and yet nothing changes.

’Eventually someone will have a nice contract to demolish these properties which could’ve been done years ago if they weren’t going to do anything with them.’

Manx Utilities, which now owns the properties, told the Manx Independent: ’The properties have remained unoccupied due to the noise abatement order placed on them and a previous order for demolition was agreed in 2013 (pre Manx Utilities merger).

’In the interim, Manx Utilities have worked with the Department of Economic Development to assess whether they could be utilised for alternative use, which unfortunately came back negative as the noise order remains in force.’

A spokesman also confirmed that because of structural concerns, there are plans to seek further ’Expressions of Interest’ to demolish the properties.

The properties were the subject of theft in 2016 when the slate tiles on the back of the properties were taken, however, no arrests were ever made.

Manx Utilities also confirmed the properties have signs warning of asbestos ’these have been affixed as required by law, following a formal assessment of the properties by a qualified asbestos surveyor’.

However, Mr Karran said if this is the case then the properties should be better protected from entry.

Manx Utilities concluded ’The Expressions of Interest for Demolition will be advertised on our website and on our social media pages.’