As expected, there has been a considerable backlash and an outpouring of anger, following the announcement made last week that the DOI will seek approval to truncate the Horse Tramway at the bottom of Broadway. The matter is due to be debated at next Tuesday's sitting of Tynwald.
Here are just some of the comments which have been received by the MERS.
“I have sent an email to our mhk's ALSO, it occurred to me that running the full length vs stopping at the villa / sefton has no cost implications for the service on an ongoing basis. The vehicle still needs maintenance, the personal still need paying, horse shoes still need changing at the same rate as feet grow at the same rate, insurance etc remain the same. The horse gets fed the same amount regardless. This short trot has no impact on food in take. Regardless of what is planned for future service the ONLY financial cost of this proposal is the one off cost laying 2 tracks instead of 1 over a short length, which in the grand scheme of things is negligible but keeps the options open.“
“He's trying to make a name for himself and to hell with the cost. Like many MHKs at the last election the chances are he won't be around for long but the damage he does will last forever.”
“Typical, he's not from here, so what is he mouthing off for re part of our Manx heritage?”
“I'm not "from her"e but consider his proposal an act of vandalism, the Manx Transport heritage is IMO something to be treasured”
“Total Crap”
“Why finish at the end of Broadway,should either leave it where it is or what about developing to go to south quay?”
“All part of a cunning plan to extend the MER and dump the horse trams... “
“Unfortunately, particularly in the IOM, our leaders only seem to see things in the extremely short term, in this case saving money over the next two years at the expense of the longer term future Of The trams and not even considering the heritage aspects. “
“I was under the impression that our political masters had decided to leave the tracks alone . Is this proposed by a director/manager/ civil servant who thinks he/she knows best? “
“Cutting out the connection with the town centre at the Sea Terminal would be suicide for the tramway.”
“Why not have single track with passing loops for the whole length of the promenade? And integrated ticketing and timetabling with bus, train and MER”
“Someone who hopefully sees the nonsense of a short line. They should just remember the plumet in passenger numbers when they tried it with the Steam Railway.”
“The point to be rammed home is that once a 140 year old piece of heritage is part-destroyed it's gone, almost certainly forever, long after any benefits from spending cuts are wasted elsewhere. You make short-term cuts but can't just switch the heritage back on later. “
“I saw a Manx Radio interview posted on Facebook with the Minister and I have never heard such unconvincing reasons for shortening the tramway. It is Manx Heritage and needs to be preserved along the whole length of the promenade otherwise it will not be viable which cynical me seems to think is what those that have no interest in preserving Manx Heritage would like to see. Bad enough that the Steam Line between Douglas and Peel closed “
"Clear steer?" I thought last summer's vote by the outgoing Tynwald, had already done that with little room for doubt. Or wasn't it the sort of clear steer that the DoI wanted?? “
“Once elected to their fine salaries they tend to forget their promises “
“Personally I think it will be a sad loss that the tram stops well short of the Sea Terminal. Wouldn't it be great if it could be extended to the Steam Terminus, however I cannot see that happening but what a Tourist attraction it would make. “
“Missing a golden opportunity to improve an important part of Manx heritage. Sounds like half a job to me “
“As a suggestion to follow his stupid logic. Why doesn't the ferry stop 1/4 mile from the harbour to keep costs down? “
“Do we really vote these ********* into power? We need looking at ! “
“History has shown on both the MER and IMR that reducing the length of the line cripples it and destroys any theoretical savings. This isn't some cheap fairground ride! “
“This is ridiculous!! They should market hard, and sell the product they have, not strip away the uniqueness of the islands transport heritage!! “
“This is all sounding like referendums these days , if the powers that be don't get the results they want, just keep sending it back to Tynwald until they do, or hope people just get fed up, & give up! “
“Don't understand why parking will be preserved by ripping up a stretch of tramway - what is wrong with the current parking along that stretch! “
“Looks like the end of the tramway is in sight. Cut it back so less people travel on it, becomes even more expensive to run, closes, the end. A very short sighted money saving scheme, I had hoped this new government was better than that. I do notice that car parking is king.”
“Additionally, a shorter route means fewer trams are needed, so get ready for a further tram sell off and more horses being retired - but not replaced. “
“Car parking is king because, in a lot of people's eyes, the car is king. A "lifestyle" accessory, something that "says something about who you are", something that absolutely must be replaced every few years..... “
“There's loads of room for a carpark, even a multi story one where Summerland was, if getting rid of the horse trams for extra parking is the idea behind it all, yes, I had also hopes this new government had a better vision of the attraction to the island of tourist's, that the horse trams brings “
“Better close it, the steam railway and MER. Sell everything to people in the UK who want it. Then the IOM can become the tourist-free backwater it seems to wish to be.”
“This makes me very sad and cross. The horse-trams are known worldwide and could be utilised more by frequent primary school trips “
“Disgusted with this suggestion- the main and only attraction in Douglas is the horse drawn trams “
“Why do they seem determined to strip the I.o.M of any unique tourist attraction? Madness”
“Run it properly or close it. new government - just as dumb as the old government “
“What is wrong with these people, and those who wont have a bad word said about them ?”
“Terrible decision, if they are laying a single track they may as well lay 2. Is they're a planning application in yet?
“Not happy, i intend to contact my mhks before tynwald meets”
“Harmer ! What an appropriate name for somebody who is hell bent on harming the wonderful horse trams. Well done to the MERS for trying to do something to stop this lunacy, more power to your elbow.. The silence from the other so called enthusiast groups is deafening. Perhaps making any noise rocks boats ! “
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