Douglas Council Considers Trial Traffic Ban on Capital’s Quayside

A proposal to permanently pedestrianize a section of a quayside area in the Manx capital is currently under consideration. Douglas Council intends to implement a trial closure of North Quay to vehicular traffic, aiming to boost pedestrian activity and foster economic growth for businesses situated along the harbourside. The local authority confirmed it would conduct consultations with residents, local businesses, and customers, noting that the initiative could also provide additional disabled parking. Council leader Clare Wells stated that while these plans are being evaluated, nothing is “set in stone” at this stage. Currently, North Quay is only closed to traffic on weekends and bank holidays during the spring and summer months. The proposed pedestrianization would extend from the entrance to North Quay at Banks Circus up to Market Hill. An exception would be made for loading and deliveries, permitted between 07:00 and 10:00 GMT. Ms Wells remarked that previous road closures in the vicinity had “worked really well” and facilitated “some amazing events down there.” She further elaborated, “What we want to do is expand on that and see how we can do it better for the community, but also for the businesses that are down there so they can start investing in the area around them.” Wells suggested that both businesses and the public would benefit from the certainty of knowing that roads were permanently closed, rather than having varied closures, which could lead to firms “having to move whatever it is they’re investing in.” Ms Wells highlighted that, unlike Castletown’s Market Square, where winter pedestrianization has encountered opposition, Douglas lacks a comparable public space. She explained, “We don’t have a square that we can close off for people to go sit in, so we’re trying to create an area which is useful for people who want to go out and socialise.” She concluded by stating, “If it doesn’t work, then we’ll look at it again.”