An area of Douglas highlighted as one of the capital’s so-called grot spots improved - but then deteriorated again.

Councillors at a recent meeting in Douglas said some efforts had been made to tidy the area up but matters seemed to have gone downhill again since.

But on a more positive note, a more permanent structure had been put in place to shore up the end of a terrace bordering the Villiers Square site.

Councillor Debra Pitts noted the site had been better following recent publicity but there was still room for improvement.

’If the hoardings were painted and the metal bars were covered that would make matters better.

’The horse trams have now started again and the holiday season is beginning and it does still look a mess,’ she said.

’I can’t understand why it’s taking so long.’

She cited the example of Port Sunlight near Liverpool, which, she said, used children’s paintings to decorate some areas.

’The pictures tell a story about what is good about the town. There’s no reason why something like that could not be put in place here,’ she said.

’That corner looks awful and it’s a terrible view for the coffee shop customers to look out on to. How long is it going to stay like that and can it not be tidied up a bit?’

The view was echoed by Council Leader David Christian.

’The first thing people see coming off the boat is the grotty old Villiers site,’ he said.

He suggested painting the hoardings green rather than white would make the area stand out less starkly.

’They should be covered with some sort of art work because some of these sites look like that for years,’ he said.

’This is a filthy area in the town and there must be someone we can take it up with.’

He suggested the whole area needed cleaning, weeding and lines repainting on the service lane around the square.

’It would lift the whole area at the start of the summer season,’ he said.

Vice chairman of the council’s environmental services committee, Catherine Turner, agreed the situation was still not acceptable. ’We don’t know how long the site will be used in this way,’ she said.

’The new dilapidated officer is working on this to get the hoardings painted and we will explore the idea of getting it decorated with some sort of street art - something more visually appealing than white boards.

’We are also pressing again for it to be tidied up,’ she told councillors.