Public meeting calls for end to Market Square winter vehicle ban

A public meeting has seen calls for the revocation of a winter prohibition on vehicles accessing a town square. The closure of Market Square by Castletown Commissioners, effective from November to March, was a key topic of discussion at the gathering of approximately 100 residents and traders. Those present endorsed a motion proposed to lobby the Department of Infrastructure for the traffic order to be rescinded, citing fears it would negatively impact trade. While the square has been closed during summer months in recent years for events and leisure activities, parking had previously been reinstated there during winter. The Thursday evening meeting at Morton Hall was convened by Tony Brown and Richard Ronan, two of the town’s former MHKs, along with John Cringle, a past chairman of the commissioners. They stated that the assembly was organized after their request to meet with the full board regarding the issue had been “refused.” However, a statement from the board, read at the commencement of the proceedings, indicated that an offer to meet with some representatives had been made but subsequently declined. The statement further noted that the meeting “had not been held in collaboration” with the local authority and affirmed the board’s ongoing commitment to “open” and “honest” communication. Two current commissioners, Jimmy Cubbon and Colin Leather, attended the meeting. Concerns raised during the meeting included a perceived lack of communication from the local authority regarding the decision, a potential decrease in customer traffic for local businesses, and the removal of accessible parking provisions for disabled individuals during the winter. The meeting also heard from several business owners who reported reduced takings, including Sheree Bolleurs, owner of Gaslight Gift Shop, who stated she had experienced a 50% reduction in her returns compared to the previous year. More than 80 of those who attended the meeting voted in favor of the motion, which requests the infrastructure minister to revoke the winter closure order “due to the adverse impact” on the town until a report outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the measure is published. The motion further asks that during the winter months, the minister “provides for closures” specifically for community events. Speaking after the meeting, Chris Blatcher, owner of Jac Stores, commented that the winter closure was “harming trade,” and numerous traders had voiced apprehension about “whether they would be here” in a year’s time. Mr. Brown conveyed that the message was “quite clear”: residents were “extremely concerned” about the square’s unavailability for parking throughout the winter. Leather stated he would “take away the concerns,” adding that it was now an issue to “sit down, talk about all together, and see where we go from here.” Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.