A £100,000 scheme to improve the footpaths to Silverdale Glen is about to begin.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker told Tynwald last week that the work will be undertaken in three phases, subject to available funding.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked Mr Baker to provide an update on the timetable for the works.

Mr Baker said that phase one is due to begin at the end of July/start of August and includes clearing the Mullin Y Carty ’and if possible some temporary works undertaken to open this section of path’.

This work will enable a survey to establish the full extent of damage caused to the path by erosion.

He added: ’Phase two will see improvements to the path within the Silverdale Glen area, with works programmed to start within the next few months.

’However, the section from Silverdale Glen on the Southwest side of Ballamodha requires a substantial amount of work. Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 the works planned for late March and early April 2020 were delayed.’

The third part of the works will return to the Mullin Y Carty area and includes ’substantial’ repairs to stabilise the path and riverbank and mitigate against further path erosion.

Access to this section of the path will require what Mr Baker said was the ’goodwill’ of the land owner as ’this is the only access point for the necessary plant and equipment required to undertake these works’.

He said: ’Work can only be undertaken when ground conditions and river conditions are suitable so the work is being planned for July 2021.

’Although the full extent of work has yet to be surveyed a substantial amount of work is required in order to stabilise the river bank and mitigate further erosion to the path.’