Tynwald has overwhelmingly approved a £20.7m redevelopment of Douglas promenades - at last.

Only one Tynwald member voted against the scheme which Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said would benefit the island ’for generations to come’.

He said the project had been debated for many years but now was time to grasp the nettle and proceed with a ’full depth’ restructuring.

A new design has been drawn up for the southern section featuring a roundabout at the Broadway junction and the creation of a cultural area around the Villa Marina and Gaiety.

The scheme will see the horse tramway retained as a double track in the centre of the road between Castlemona Avenue and Strathallan but switching to a single track at the side of the road terminating at Peveril Square, near the Sea Terminal.

Tim Crookall MLC said he believed retaining the tracks in the centre of the road was a ’huge mistake’.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) said Douglas ’badly needs a lift’. But he felt spending £5.2m on the horse trams was misplaced. ’We already spend eye watering amounts on heritage railways. ’It’s a very expensive train set’.

He said the three years of roadworks would cause disruption for businesses and the economy.

David Ashford (Douglas North) queried whether the trams would run the full length - and the Minister confirmed they would, adding he believed the line could break even.

Bill Malarkey (Douglas South) described it as ’blue riband’ day. ’Let’s get on with project,’ he urged.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) said: ’Let’s try to bring this scheme in on time and under budget.’

Daphne Caine (Garff) pointed out it was not a ’gold plated Rolls Royce scheme’.

Ralph Peake (Douglas North) said: ’It’s a sensible approach.’ He urged to condense the scheme from three years to two.

Bill Henderson MLC said the scheme had been a long time coming. ’Let’s improve the front face of Douglas.’

Tynwald voted to approve the scheme by 24 votes to 0 in the Keys and seven votes to one in LegCo. Mr Crookall MLC was the only one who voted against.