Speaking on Manx Radio today, Secretary of the Manx Electric Railway Society Julian Nutter, branded the latest move by Tynwald for the Horse Tramway 'a mess'...
JAMES DAVIS: The Secretary of the Manx Electric Railway Society has predicted the ongoing regeneration of Douglas Promenade will continue for years - the work probably - will but Julian Nutter was speaking after the vote in Tynwald on Tuesday teatime to retain the full length of the Horse Tramway on just a single line. Of course the Society had perviously promised to fight proposals to reduce the service to between Broadway and Summerhill. Reasons to be happy then? Mr Nutter spoke to Chris Cave.
JULIAN NUTTER: We campaigned to keep the Horse Tramway open but this is no victory. Its unfortunately a mess which has been created as a result of the last vote from the Keys, the one before Christmas when they reneged on their support for the Tramway, as I think the bulk of the had declared before they were elected, and they voted then for an ill-thought-out scheme without knowing the full picture.
They didn’t know when they voted before Christmas that sitting in an Infrastructure Department depot on South Quay in Douglas is enough rail for a double track full length relay for the Horse Tramway. Nor were they told that the Minister had put a planning application in the effect of which would lead to the demolition of the Horse Tram stables and the depot.
They weren’t given anything like the full picture. There will be nothing left from the present Horse Tramway. Ironically with the new plan with the recent amendment there will be nothing left of the present Horse Tramway. The depot will go. The stables will go and all of the track will be brand new. Now, if you’re trying to attract people who want to come and see your history its not a very good start is it?
CHRIS CAVE: Well you say its no victory for anyone, but the Manx Electric Railway Society has fought to preserve the full length of the Tramway. Surely in a way you have got …
JULIAN NUTTER: Unfortunately what’s going to happen is the permission for that will not be granted. So we’re going to be back no doubt with somebody else saying they can’t afford to relay it and of course by then the [new] track will have been dissipated. This is by no means over. Its going to rattle on.
CHRIS CAVE: It would appear though everybody you speak to would like a speedy resolution to to this promenade issue but nobody is willing to make concessions.
JULIAN NUTTER: Unfortunately, what really needs to happen here is somebody needs to get a grip on this, stop the dissipation of the grooved rail and put a scheme through that will work and work quickly with planning. They need to speak to the planners and need to read the report of the independent planning inspector because it was pretty scathing on the last attempt to move the trams to the walkway. All they need to do is to put the double track back and tarmac it.
CHRIS CAVE: I think its fair to say you weren’t the biggest fan of the previous Infrastructure Minister, Mr Harmer’s announcement last month won’t have pleased you I’m sure. Do you feel more or less confident of getting what you want under the new administration?
JULIAN NUTTER: Well, its a very good question. The first point I would make is this. I haven’t met Mr Harmer and I’ve had nothing by way of communication with him. We would be prepared to help Mr Harmer if he would hear what we had to say put if forward in a constructive way. The last thing we want to do is be in this apparent perpetual state of war in order to defend the things which we think should be defended.
You can hear the full interview HERE.