The fact that Ramsey Commissioners did not have interested party status in relation to the proposed 5G Sure Mobile mast at Tower Farm has highlighted a situation that must be addressed, say members.

The cluster of telecommunication masts on Tower Farm are technically in the parish Maughold and, for this reason, the 5G application was sent to Garff Commissioners for comment.

Garff did not object and the application was approved by the planning committee on May 17, with 21 days ending on June 6 for interested parties to lodge an appeal.

Garff, meanwhile, was made aware of some strong public opposition to the application, as evidenced by a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

The chairman indicated she was willing to consider an appeal and, as the application predominantly affected Ramsey residents, asked if the commissioners had any concerns they might wish to raise.

The time-scale, however, was very tight: to meet the deadline, a quorum of Ramsey members would have to have met on June 4 or 5, right in the middle of the TT period. As it transpired, insufficient numbers were able to attend and no meeting was held. The appeal deadline passed with no appeal being lodged.

At their monthly meeting last week, Ramsey Commissioners reviewed the situation. Billy Hankin asked: ’Why did Garff sit on it until the last minute, then shove it out to us when it’s too late for us to do anything?’

His colleague Juan McGuinness felt it highlighted a broader issue: ’We have no interested party status on something that will affect the people of Ramsey.

’This seems ridiculous to me. I think it’s an opportunity for us to say to planning that if something is on our boundary it is important we have a say on it’.

All members agreed and a letter to this effect will be sent to the government’s planning department.

Planning in the Isle of Man is dealt with by central government. Local authorities can comment on plans but do not determine the outcomes.