The finish date for the main work on Douglas Promenade redevelopment scheme is being pushed back again - with the latest lockdown being blamed.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker admitted that the target of having work on the main part of the Douglas seafront scheme completed by July would not now be met, due to the knock-on effect of construction work being put on hold earlier this month as a result of lockdown three.

Mr Baker told the House of Keys on Tuesday: ’I have made very clear that the objective, right from my point as minister, is to get this scheme done and get off the prom to give the visitor economy the best chance as possible in the climate at the time.

’Clearly we have suffered some challenges with this, some of which have been internal projects and some of which have been external and clearly the last published completion date was the end of July.

’That was before the current lockdown process and the closure of construction with effect from last Friday.

’As no work can take place, the contractors’ timescales will have slipped beyond the end of July, certainly into August, depending on how long the shutdown lasts.’

The £25m scheme has been hit by numerous delays since it started in September 2018.

The latest setback was confirmed after Clare Barber (Douglas East) tabled a Keys question asking when Tynwald approval would be sought for the costs covering the final phase of work, to take place after the main scheme was completed.

Mr Baker said the Department of Infrastructure would seek Tynwald approval in November.

The additional works to be completed after the main scheme include, said Mr Baker, ’the construction of the granite roundel at the bottom of Broadway, the construction of the granite roundel at the bottom of Church Road Marina and construction of the horse tramway from Broadway to the Sea Terminal’.

He added: ’It is expected that the remainder of the horse tramway will be built as planned starting in the winter of 2021/22. The roundels will subsequently be built over future winters.’

Mrs Barber queried the timescale of work on the horse tramway, given that approval was only being sought in November.

She also asked why the department had ’missed the opportunity of utilising the spare time over this summer, which is looking less likely that it will be functional for a full tourist season’.

It was at that stage Mr Baker confirmed that the main scheme would not be completed in July.

gap

’The main scheme is going to complete later than was originally planned and the gap through to the winter period is going to be shorter,’ he said.

’But it is really important that we get the main scheme completed.’

He added that, on other capital schemes, a contractor had been appointed ahead of Tynwald approval, enabling work to start swiftly once that approval was obtained.