Plans for a bypass near Ballasalla village are to be submitted soon, but what do the people in the area think about it?

A link road that will begin at the roundabout on Glashen Hill, Douglas Road, and end at the roundabout at Balthane Corner is hoped to reduce traffic congestion for those travelling through.

The Examiner took a trip to the south of the island to find out the views of the residents about the possible plans.

’It’s a good idea,’ John Denny, 61, from Castletown, said. ’People will get through to the airport quicker.

’The bypass been long overdue and has been talked about for five to ten years. I used to work for the government and the issue of whether it should be the government who should fund the bypass or someone else was heavily discussed.

’The development of 300 houses would help the shops in the area, but we don’t know the mix of people who will be living in the houses.

’If the plans go through without the houses then I’m still in favour, but they need the houses to get the return to justify the road going in.’

Looking at a picture of the proposed route, Castletown resident, Kim Foy, 55, said: ’Are they not just diverting the problem from one housing estate to another?

’There was always a problem of congestion in Ballasalla when I used to drive through there years ago. People don’t know how to use roundabouts,’ she laughed. ’It seems to end as a standstill.

’But I do think a bypass in that area should have been done decades ago. It would be nice to have a Marks and Spencer in the old Mylchreests, which is the perfect place for a supermarket because there’s a good amount of parking space available.’

Richard Lewis, 73, from Port Erin. ’It’s a good idea and should make things better for people living in the south.

’It would be helpful to have a supermarket in Ballasalla too.’

Christina Edmonds, who is under 70 and also from Port Erin, agreed. ’I think it would be good to have an Asda there instead of a Tesco,’ she said. ’I do think other places have worse congestion, like getting out of Rushen is quite bad.’

Douglas resident Heather Nisbet, 48, from Heather’s Baps in Ballasalla, thinks the bypass will bring in positive changes to the village.

’Work-wise, it will be good for me, as I’m hoping the work will come here when it’s done. I also think it will stop congestion which can get pretty bad here.’

Mark Stevens from Port Erin and once the head teacher of Kewaigue Primary School and deputy head of Ballasalla Primary School, asked: ’How many kids are going to live in those 300 houses?

’As a result of more houses being built around Mount Murray, the number of children coming in to Kewaigue went through the roof and the school ended up with an extension.’

His wife, Ann, added: ’If there are more kids, there will be more traffic. Extra traffic on the roads are risking them even more, especially with the lorries.

’It’d also be interesting to see how many old and empty houses are kicking around in the island already, as I think there are many houses being left to ruin, which make things look mucky.’