Tynwald has approved more than £1.3 million-worth of funding for the second phase of work on Douglas promenade. The work will eventually see the relay of the 2.5 mile long horse tramway.
The promenade scheme was approved, with two MHKs opposing it - Onchan members Peter Karran and David Quirk. An amendment tabled by Peter Karran calling for a delay to the money being given so a full assessment of flood risk could be brought to Tynwald by October 2014, was defeated.
Newly-appointed Infrastucture Minister Laurence Skelly claims the result will be an impressive "gateway" for those arriving on the Island, and will be "of great economic importance."
The Minister rejected suggestions that it may be another '15 or more years' at the current pace before the entire promenade is resurfaced and modernised.
Speaking on Manx Radio News he said: "Absolutely not. Of course what we need to do is to accelerate it appropriately and this might be a very small distance however it is a very critical distance because this is the set up and the foundation for what will be the following phase and that will be to do the horse tram track in one entire year. I would point out that we have had agreement with Douglas Corporation to suspend the horse trams going into that phase beacuse we do want to do that in one single year because we need to reduce the amount of disruption if possible. This phase 2 is critical for the success of Phase 3."
Read the original report and listen to the associated audio clip HERE.