Residents have reacted with shock and dismay to the decision to approve at appeal the plan for a 72-bedroom care home at Spaldrick.

They are considering submitting a petition for redress of grievance on Tynwald Day because they feel correct procedure was not followed over the decision.

When the plan was submitted last year, 40 local residents met and agreed the application is an inappropriate gross over-development of the site, and does not conform to the Southern Area Plan.

Lorna Mackellar, whose house at Meadowfield overlooks the Spaldrick site said: ’I really do not understand why government spends resources and time in developing area plans that take six years when as soon as a plan comes in to completely ignore the provision of the area plans. The inspector acknowledged it, what’s the point?’

Concerns include it is incompatible with surrounding are and is out of character.

She added: ’Why did the minister delegate a decision about such a life and amenity changing development in a semi-rural area? The applicant admitted at appeal they build nursing homes not run them and did not answer questions about running them, and operational questions were some of the main objections,

’For example, there is no provision for bin wagons, there will be a serious amount of noxious waste.

’Every significant non-conforming aspect of the proposal has been swept aside.

’We are prepared to take a petition for redress of grievance to Tynwald Hill to appeal about procedures not being followed.

’There is a need for nursing homes, but not in the south. There is no waiting list for Abbotswood (care home in Ballasalla) apart from for dementia and this (at Spaldrick) does not contain that.

’They have got permission to build a huge monolith. The whole thing we feel is fishy.

’There is no market research we are aware of to justify a 72 bed and there are other more suitable sites in Port Erin. It’s a four-storey high development in a semi rural area. Commissioners are against it, local residents - even those not immediately affected - are against it. It will severely alter our outlook from being open to a wall four storeys high.’

Bradda Glen Close resident Catherine Petit said ’The proposed dwelling is relentless and will change Bradda from a rural landscape to a city scape. A great shame. We are all very upset about this.’

She added that she was concerned that the scheme was only approved because government is pushing for new care homes to be built - and the taxpayer could ultimately end up paying for it, just as it did with the Salisbury Street home in Douglas.

Graham Stephenson, of Meadowfield, said: ’I’m surprised at the announcement that the appeal has been allowed.

’It feels like the strategic plan for the south is only there to get in the way of planning for the general public, and is simply ignored for larger developers.

’It will be a shame to have such a picture perfect area of the Isle of Man over developed, just to make a care home that’s apparently not even needed.’

â?¢ Port Erin Commissioners will comment at their meeting on April 10.