The government still has long-term plans to dispose of Peel harbour silt at a former mine near Foxdale.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer faced questions about the plan from Tim Crookall MLC, a former Peel MHK.

Silt is due to be stored temporarily in a pool beyond the Peel power station site, where it would be drained and excess water would be pumped back into the harbour, subject to it passing environmental tests.

Then the dried sediment would be taken to the former Cross Vein Mine to restore contaminated and eroded land.

Mr Harmer, who is also MHK for Glenfaba and Peel, said: ’The Department (of Infrastructure) has permission to store material in Rockmount until May 2020.

’Planning permission is in place for a temporary store at Peel and it is being sought for the permanent disposal at Cross Vein Mine.’

Mr Crookall asked if that meant the silt currently being stored at Rockmount would be moved to the temporary store in Peel before transfer to Cross Vein, off the Round Table Road, near Foxdale.

Mr Harmer appeared to be opposed to that, commenting: ’It would not be the best outcome if we then moved it from one temporary store to another.’