Plans for a cycling route from Onchan and upper Douglas into the town centre are still at the ’early concept stage’.

The Department of Infrastructure announced plans to introduce an ’active travel’ route into Douglas to encourage people to walk or cycle to work. However, it will not be releasing any more than basic details on what the proposed routes are.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK told local democracy reporter Ewan Gawne that the route was expected to start from Douglas town centre and pass through upper Douglas, Willaston, Governor’s Hill and Onchan.

Mr Harmer added that the majority of the route would be on quiet roads and footpaths and - where possible - it would pass through traffic-free areas.

Despite this, almost all major estates in upper Douglas and Onchan such as Willaston, Cronk-y-Berry, Birch Hill and Ballachrink are surrounded by or feed directly onto major roads leading in and out of the capital.

To seek clarification on the routes, the Manx Independent contacted the Department of Infrastructure.

A DoI spokesman said: ’The proposal involves a defined walking and cycling route being created between Onchan and Douglas, and ties in with the aims of the active travel strategy, but is very much at the early concept stage.

’It is therefore inappropriate to go into any further detail at this time.’

All the department would confirm was that the promenade walkway would continue to be a shared space for cyclists and walkers.

Route

The matter was discussed in Douglas Council this month, where councillors were told that the regeneration and community committee had considered a written report based on DoI proposals on the matter of using the central footpath in Noble’s Park as part of the route.

In the council agenda, it was stated that the department was seeking to run part of the cycle way through Noble’s Park to link onto St Ninian’s Road.

It added: ’The proposed route from Willaston utilises the existing pedestrian crossing on Glencrutchery Road.

’This links into an existing gate onto the pit return lane and into the park.

’From here, the route would follow the existing perimeter path to the pedestrian gate onto St Ninian’s Road.

’In order to make this route suitable for cycling, the tarmac path would need widening and a suitable alternative gate installed onto St Ninian’s Road.

’A map of the route was appended to the report.’

The Manx Independent asked for a copy of either the report or the map but were provided with neither.

Away from Douglas, an Onchan resident we spoke to raised concerns about the possibility of creating a cycle lane in the village, saying the main road ’simply isn’t wide enough’.

The man, who didn’t wish to be named, said: ’I completely support the idea of getting people more active, but I just don’t see where in the village it is feasible.

’If you watch a bus going through the village, it takes up the entire side of the road. Where do you put a cycle lane in there?’

The resident’s sentiment was backed up by Onchan Commissioners’ surveyor Brian Price, who said that in his opinion the village’s roads ’do not lend themselves to the creation of cycle lanes within the existing carriageway’.