An inquiry into a boundary extension at Ballakilley estate - which straddles Port Erin and Rushen parish - has been postponed to March.

The public inquiry was due to get underway at Castletown Civic Centre on Monday.

But Rushen Commissioners applied to postpone the inquiry following a ’very late’ written submission by Port Erin Commissioners, Rushen Commissioners clerk Phil Gawne said.

Port Erin Commissioners are proposing the village’s boundary be extended to include the whole of Ballakilley estate, arguing it overcomes an ’iniquitous’ situation, in which more houses - 90 when plans were first drawn up - are in Port Erin, but pay considerably higher rates than the 66 houses on the Rushen parish side of the boundary.

Rushen Commissioners oppose the move, saying Port Erin is land grabbing to generate more income. Mr Gawne wrote to residents on his parish’s side to point out their rates could increase by an average of almost £250.

Attendees at the inquiry included Port Erin Commissioners’ clerk Jason Roberts and chairman Nick Watterson, Rushen Commissioners’ clerk Phil Gawne and several parish commissioners plus Gill Kelly, the last tenanted farmer of the land (and former commissioners’ clerk).

Mr Gawne said the authority was sympathetic to the ’interesting circumstances’ behind the late submission, but said as it was received on Thursday lunchtime, had left just 12 working hours to respond to Port Erin’s ’more fulsome response’.

Port Erin had intended to give verbal evidence - in addition to the information supplied in the boundary extension application - at the inquiry. This was the same procedure adopted by the authority at similar inquiries in the past.

Local government unit manager Stephen Willoughby said the deadline for submitting proofs of evidence was January 11. He explained that Port Erin had not given written evidence until the last minute: ’It was a misunderstanding between the chairman and Port Erin about how it should take place.’

Inquiry chairman Geoff Karran said clear deadlines had been set. Verbal evidence can ’catch people unawares’. He stressed the importance of following correct procedure in this ’very important issue’.

A Rushen Commissioners spokesman said the authority ’notes the chairperson’s concerns expressed this morning in relation to Port Erin’s late submission. The Commissioners accept the pragmatic way in which the chairperson has allowed the late submission from Port Erin and welcome the adjournment.’

It was submitted the ’modest’ delay would ’lead to a more thoroughly considered conclusion and recommendation’.

A Port Erin Commissioners spokesman said they ’were happy to agree with the adjournment’ and ’look forward to it reconvening in March’.

The inquiry will now take place on March 4 at 9.30am at the Castletown Civic Centre.