“Restoring the capital's most historic public transport links will be on the mind of MHKs next week.
When the House of Keys sits, Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Moorhouse wants to know when the horse trams will run all the way to the Sea Terminal again.
He's due to ask Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall to make a statement.
The House of Keys will sit from 10am on Tuesday, February 24 in Legislative Buildings in Douglas.”
A transcript from today's (February 24th) sitting of the Keys is reproduced as follows:
MR SPEAKER: Question 8. I call on The Hon Member for Castletown Mr Moorhouse.
MR MOORHOUSE:. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister for Infrastructure
when the horse trams will be extended to the Sea Terminal, and he will make a statement.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Minister for Infrastructure to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The business case on the
Douglas Bay Horse Tram tramway is currently under review, and the Department intends to
bring it to May Tynwald. If approved by Tynwald, it is anticipated that the project will
commence within 12 months and is expected to take approximately 40 weeks.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Moorhouse,
MR MOORHOUSE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister, for that positive update.
In terms of what's happening between now and the spades in the ground, is any work going to
be taking place, or is it a matter of simply waiting for Tynwald to have their debate and going
from that point? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Minister to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: It’s a case of waiting, Mr. Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Moorhouse.
MR MOORHOUSE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Minister. In terms of the gap we've
got between the actual completion of the work and where we are today, concerns have been
raised about, the lack of clarity in terms of the horse tram has not been for the full length of the
promenade. It's quite interesting that I've got an advert this morning that's been in a recent
national newspaper from across, and they make reference specifically to, the journey on the
Douglas Bay Horse Tramway. In terms of that promotion. Getting that kind of clarity that we've
only got a part service. Is anything being done to make sure that is actually out there and
people are aware of that situation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Minister to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: I have no idea, Mr. Speaker. I would imagine that that's
either come from somebody who's been over here and visited or somebody through … DfE
and Visit Agency who have put an article in the paper, but I have no idea. The plan is if Tynwald
decides to complete that as soon as possible, or whenever Tynwald decide.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Edge.
Ms EDGE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That advert is not new. It goes out every year and it's in a
lot of the national papers. So and I think it's always said the Douglas Bay tramway. It doesn't
distract because lots of visitors come. Can I ask the minister with regards to the extension
where the grassed area is? Was there any foundation work carried out at the time by the
Department to ensure that the tramway could go there in the future, were the plates put down
or anything significant like that.
MR SPEAKER: Minister to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: Yes. Mr. Speaker, I'm led to believe there have been some
preparation work done underneath that grassed area that leads up towards the other end of
the war memorial.
MR SPEAKER: Doctor Heywood.
DR HEYWOOD: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to congratulate and
thank the Minister for picking up on this piece of work, which I had done a fair amount to push
forward on and to thank him for his commitment today to bringing that forward for Tynwald to
make a decision. Can I just check with the Minister that the plans that he's working on also
accommodate the changes that were proposed to the bus passenger facilities around that
area, around the Sea Terminal at the end of the bottleneck car park.
MR SPEAKER: Minister to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those secret plans all link in
together.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Moorhouse.
MR MOORHOUSE: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the detail, how quickly will that be
made available, especially areas like the cost tables? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Minister to reply.
MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: In the usual way, Mr. Speaker. We will take it through the
Department and then the council of ministers. Put a paper to council of ministers and then put it on
the register of business for May Tynwald