Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas has apologised to home-owners worried by preparations for a new planning blueprint for the east of the Isle of Man.

Rob Callister (Onchan) called on him three times to say sorry to residents who had been shocked to discover their homes could be affected by proposals to zone their land for development, outlined in the consultation document that was put out ahead of a draft of an eastern area plan.

In Tynwald last week, Mr Callister asked him to ’apologise for the considerable stress caused to the constituents of Onchan, who were shocked to discover that their gardens and surrounding areas were added to the east assessment framework, without any consultation to the residents or any formal notice being issued?’.

Mr Thomas did not apologise immediately and pointed out the correct process in law had been followed.

He suggested: ’Perhaps it can be reassuring for any people who find themselves in that situation that, as part of a definitive process inside law, a decision will be made about the development status which has been there for a number of years going forward as part of the actual eastern area plan.’

But Mr Callister said it was not a case of unallocated land, rather people’s gardens, that were suddenly being suggested for other purposes.

One of those affected, he said, was an 80-year-old woman who had no intention of selling her home.

Mr Thomas pointed out there was no eastern area plan in place at the moment and suggested that particular site was already zoned for development under the Onchan local plan.

But, at the third time of asking, he offered a qualified apology.

’I make an apology to anybody who has suffered any discomfort in the process, but I would like to think that Onchan MHKs will join with me in explaining the situation, which is that there is no eastern area plan and at the end of this process it might be that this land could be taken away,’ he said.

’If it is the same site that I have information here about, I understand there has been regular contact between officers and the people in question.’

Earlier this year, after a number of organisations and residents were shocked to see their land suggested for other purposes in the preliminary consultation document, Mr Thomas was forced to explain that work on preparing a draft would not start before the consultation was completed.

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