Commenting on yesterday's sale by auction of six tramcars, Secretary Julian Nutter outlines position of MERS:
"The committee of our Society concluded last week, (based upon reliable intelligence) that we should do all we could to prevent the loss of at least one car. We decided to try to save the saloon using money which we had set aside for our annual advertising on the horse trams but which had been rejected by the new operators of the tramway, the Government Department the Department of Infrastructure who do not like us because we alone fought "vociferously" (to quote the Minister Mr Gawne) to stop them ripping up the tracks between the War Memorial and the sea Terminal for good. That was the planning application which followed Mr Gawne taking over the line.
We were outbid on the Saloon but managed to buy No 39, so if our information as to the purchaser of 37 is correct (see below) at least two cars will stay in the Island.
The following are the bids and prices wherewith Douglas Borough Council was paid its pieces of silver for this hastily arranged auction which appears to have been organised in order to get the deed done after Tynwald had been Dissolved and before the next election.
Mr Gawne, the Minister is seeking re-election;
Lot 1 (28) MERS were outbid, I presume by Welshpool) Starting bid 1800 sold £2800
Lot 2 (33) starting bid £750 sold for £1200. Buyer unknown.
Lot 3 (34) starting bid £800 sold for £1300. Buyer unknown.
Lot 4 (37) starting bid £800 sold for £1100. Buyer Howard Quayle MHK.
Lot 5 (39) staring bid £1800 sold for £1800. (MERS)
Lot 6 (40) starting bid £1000 sold for £1000. Buyer unknown.
There is in our opinion an outside chance, no more than a possibility, that Manx National Heritage may intervene to prevent the export of one or more cars to England or elsewhere.
The sole efforts made by Douglas Corporation to ensure lip service was paid to conservation was an "approved bidder" scheme and what amounted to an un-enforceable letter of intent.
This is the official reason why the six cars are being sold off; it is to clear space in the depot for stables.
However since both re-development of stables and development of new stables within the Strathallan Depot will require planning permission within the promenades conservation area (which MERS and others will oppose), in the murky world of the Isle of Man there may be another agenda.
So far as I am aware the Strathallan depot is unsuitable for conversion and it may be that someone in the Department of Infrastructure in fact plans an extension of the former Summerland Development site for their own reasons. This would require a deal with the owners of the Terminus Tavern (formerly Lord Derby's hunting lodge), probably resulting in demolition."
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