Businesses are feeling ’alienated’ by plans to revamp parts of Castletown, an MHK has claimed.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker said the ’exciting’ plans for Malew Street and Arbory Street will ’rejuvenate the town’s retail streets and build on the success of the Square’.

The refurbishment scheme (21/00471/B) involves replacing failing surfaces with concrete paving, creation of a disabled user parking space and installation of lighting columns and soft landscaping.

But constituency MHK Jason Moorhouse said he was concerned that key shopkeepers and businesses were ’starting to feel alienated’.

He said while the plans had been on display in the Commissioners’ offices since March 24, this was not in a public area.

Mr Moorhouse said the concerns of local shopkeepers and residents need to be listened to. He said the works could have a real impact on trading in the period up to Christmas.

He said the Department of Infrastructure needed to get businesses behind the plans and the opinions of local people should be ’embraced’.

’We’ve got a scheme that is viable but traders who are concerned. There’s a simple solution - have someone in the department who can talk to those people and reassure them,’ he said. ’I’m tired of the DoI imposing and going forward in this really unhelpful way.’

Mr Baker said there had been extensive meetings and discussions with the town’s MHKs and Commissioners. He said the Commissioners had been used as the voice of the local community and they had discussed the plans with many of the retail businesses in the town.

’We have engaged and we are still listening,’ he said.

’There will of course be diverse opinions and vested interests in any community. However, there is the option for those that want to, to submit their views directly via the planning system. ’

.