There are renewed calls for a leisure facility to be built on the former Summerland site.

Douglas Council leader David Christian said it would be fitting to the history of the site for it to be somewhere people could enjoy.

Mr Christian said the site, which has lain empty since promenade attraction was demolished in 2006, was ’crying out for new development’.

He said: ’I want to see a leisure facility back on the Summerland site. It has been empty for too long.

’We’ve just had the 45th anniversary of the fire. People went there that night to have fun and a good time, so I see it as an ideal tribute to those who tragically died.’

Mr Christian made the statement after comments from Councillor Betty Quirk (Athol ward), who said there is a lack of activities for teenagers aged 12 to 17.

She added that a leisure facility could easily be built on the Summerland site, the former Park Road school site or even the former Victoria Road prison site.

Mr Christian agreed and noted a common theme with the list Mrs Quirk presented. All are brownfield sites, within the capital and owned by central government.

He added that the sites shouldn’t only be considered for leisure activities, saying that the Victoria Road site, which has been empty since the prison was demolished in 2013, would be ’ideal for housing’.

Department of Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer told the Examiner: ’We are putting out the Summerland site for expressions of interest.

’The process has not yet completed but there have, I understand, already been a number of parties interested, so it is looking hopeful.

’I do not have any further information at this point but I think it’s very important that we finally see Summerland developed.

’With this and Lord Street and the promenade it will be a dramatic forward step for Douglas and the island.’

The site is for sale with chartered surveyors Chapman, with no price listing.

The former Summerland site was the subject of interest for the Sefton Group back in 2009 when the hotel company wanted to build a leisure complex called ’The Wave’.

But the Sefton ran into financial problems and the Wave plans were shelved.

The debate in the council came after a special meeting of the council’s executive committee to discuss the Draft Area Plan for the East.

During the committee meeting, it was proposed that by removing the need to provide 25% of new builds for affordable housing, it may help development on sites such as the Villiers Square, the vacant land on the corner of Regent Street and Loch Promenade.

The original Summerland was destroyed in 1973 in a fire that claimed 50 lives.

This week's Examiner comment column is about this subject.