At the end of March we were all rejoicing when it was confirmed that the Douglas Horse Tramway would run in 2016 after all with the government stepping in to operate the tramway. However this good news was tinged with the potential bad news that this was for one season only and that there would still need to be discussions over its long time viability. That all seemed fair as it gave time to ensure that the tramway was viable but then in April things moved on with the damaging news that a planning application was being submitted which allowed no provision for tram tracks between the Sea Terminal and Villa Marina.
This planning application – which if approved would mean that any future horse tram service would only be able to run between Derby Castle and Villa Marina – was duly submitted and is now under discussion. Both the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and the Manx Electric Railway Society are now campaigning for this decision to be reversed and are looking for support from everyone to object to the plan and show the government that the tramway remains an important part of the Isle of Man. The ironic thing of the planning application which seeks to remove the tramway from probably the most important section of the line has been submitted by the Department of Infrastructure – the very same part of the government who have stepped into the breach to run the tramway for 2016!
The planning application is currently active and both the Friends of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway and the Manx Electric Railway have released statements urging a rethink by the Department of Infrastructure whilst also giving reasons why the tramway should continue to run all the way to the Sea Terminal for many years to come. The Friends have stated that the removal of the tracks is against the Douglas Promenades Conservation Area Character Appraisal which has a section on the Horse Tramway and also that the DoI have wrongly considered the historic horse tramway as part of the Douglas Promenades.
A statement from the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway says: “The Department of Infrastructure plans should properly take into account at this time, not at a later date, the position of the single tramway track to be reinstated and include the necessary and appropriate facilitating work within the current project phase, otherwise reinstatement of the tramway track along Harris and Loch Promenades at a later date may prove cost prohibitive or completely impractical.”
For their part the Manx Electric Railway Society are urging “anyone who cares about the Horse Tramway” to e-mail the Planning and Building Control Division to express their views. A template letter can be downloaded from the Society website at www.mers.org.im.
* The full statement from the Friends of Douglas Bay Horse Tramway can be read here with that of the Manx Electric Railway Society here.
As a frequent visitor to the beautiful Isle of Man i find it hard to imagine the promenade without the horse trams i hope the authorities will not close the section between the Villa marina and the ferry terminal this is a part of this magic islands charm and history Dont become part of the mainland keep this island special
Members of Douglas Corp and MHKs that want to rid Douglas of the Horse Trams want their heads banging together. To rid the Island of this unique institution would be unforgivable