With seeming indecent haste and hot on the heels of the forthcoming auction (Sat 27th August) of six 'surplus' horse cars, Douglas Borough Council has now put it's historic tramway stables on the market. The sale is being handled by Chapman Chartered Surveyors of Athol Street, Douglas. The listing for the sale can be viewed HERE.
Since we broke the
story on the MERS Facebook page this morning, the following comments have been
received.
“These historic buildings should be transferred to Manx National Heritage so they can be saved for future generations. The cottages could be converted into holiday cottages in the same way that the National Trust and English Heritage do in England and the NTS do in Scotland. This would generate an income for the Island and some employment opportunities. I am not sure the "development opportunities" would be so beneficial in the long term. Perhaps the politicians should recall Tynwald to discuss this unwelcome development.”
“You CANNOT convert the cottages into holiday cottages. That would encourage tourists and the man in charge at Douglas has already he says he doesn't want any of those cluttering up his town.”
“Money, money, money and more money, this is what it is all about - a great pity the Council cannot see past their very short noses to see how they are crucifying this lovely bit of Manx Heritage! Seems shamefully indecently hurried! Where is it intended to stable the horses - I know, how about the Council Offices!”
“Since the Horsetrams are to be run (for at least the next two years) by Central Government, where do they propose the horses are going to be stabled.”
“One would assume that an alternative location has been identified, otherwise the agreement to operate the horse trams until 2018 could not have been made.”
“As a regular visiter, the charm of the waterfront in Douglas would just not be the same without the horses. A tragic mistake from the tourist point of view.”
“As an outsider looking in you have to ask what is going on? Do we not have a duty to protect heritage such as this for future generations.? Some funny things going on in the IOM”
“This is just weird! Funny they are doung all this during the parliamentary break, and until the election in effect we have no government!”
“Very sad to see this happen.... Preserving this historic system one of the many joys on the IOM..... It needs investment and to grow...”
“Deja vu....Does no-one there ever learn from the mistakes of the past, or are they just blindly besotted with making money by selling things rather than investing in the future? History can be a very powerful marketing tool.”
“The Manx government seems to be staffed by numpties without experience of the real world or a REAL JOB!”
“What's to say DBC won't simply put the tram depot up for sale, next?”
“They want rid I think very sad news people in suits haven't a clue always on for the quick buck”
“Stinks a bit!”
“Another agenda in the background me think”
“So sad, so wrong”
"It seems that the dear old Corpy can't wait to wash its hands of the tramway. "
What do you think ? Let the MERS know at [email protected]