Manx Radio reports that the "Horse Trams will continue to run the full length of Douglas Promenade". That’s after Tynwald narrowly backed a move by East Douglas MHK Chris Robertshaw and rejected proposals by Ray Harmer's Department of Infrastructure to abandon the section along Loch Prom. But despite today's vote, the survival of the Loch Prom section is far from assured and any celebrations premature.
The original proposal by the Department of Infrastructure for the existing twin tracks to remain ONLY between Broadway and Summerhill was defeated. An amendment by East Douglas MHK Mr Chris Robertshaw calling for this proposal to also include a new single tram line to be laid between the War Memorial and Sea Terminal was accepted and passed.
In a combined vote of Members of Keys and Council, 17 members voted for the amendment - while 14 opposed.
Garff MHK Daphne Caine was one of those to lend her support. It is understood North Douglas MHK David Ashford, and LegCo Member Tim Crookall also spoke in support of Mr Robertshaw.
Daphne Caine supported Mr Robertshaw’s amendment, insisting it was better to spend the money now rather than later so that it could be used for cruise ship passengers. But she said the public just wanted Tynwald to make a decision so that the Department of Infrastructure could ‘just get on with it’.
Quite what happens next remains to be seen however. Any plan to alter the Horse Tramway to a single track will require planning permission. This will involve substantial changes to the Promenade which is in a Conservation Area and will likely be opposed on that basis alone. Combine this with the fact that the DoI's "Douglas Promenade Options Review" suggests that a single line option on Loch Prom will lead to the loss of up to 91 car parking spaces, it may well draw objections from hoteliers and shopkeepers...
What we now have is a situation where Tynwald has created a contradictory proposal whereby centre double track is retained on the 'narrow' part of the prom and leaving parking unaffected (away from the shops), and going for a single seaward side track on the much wider Loch Prom causing maximum impact on parking adjacent to the hotels and shopping centre.
Other than to avoid 'procedural' issues in Tynwald, a result of their own December vote fiasco, what is the point of a SINGLE track on Loch Prom?
Had the line been retained for its full length, double track in the centre of the road - still the best way forward - there would be no loss of parking spaces and no need for planning permission. This has to be the answer going forward.
The future of the historic stables and the depot remain in doubt and the fight to preserve these goes on.
Listen to Mr Robertshaw's comments on this morning's Mandate programme HERE.