PLANS to convert a listed mansion house into a children’s nursery have sparked a row.
There was standing room only at a planning committee meeting on Monday as objectors to a proposal for a nursery at Farmhill Manor packed into the meeting.
The proposals attracted more than 30 letters of support but more than 60 letters of objection.
But the actions of Douglas councillors Bill and Carol Malarkey in orchestrating a campaign against the proposals prompted criticism from planning officers.
The report to the government’s planning committee noted that letters of objection generated by the Malarkeys were distributed with a flyer/leaflet using Douglas Council-headed paper.
The committee said: ‘Officers have contacted Mr and Mrs Malarkey raising concern that they as local residents who are also personally objecting should not be also acting in their professional capacity.’
But the Malarkeys took exception to this, stating that as political members who represent residents in Douglas they have every right to use council members’ stationery and pointing out that a footnote on the leaflet said the views expressed were not necessarily those of the council.
Officers had recommended approval of the application (12/01012/B) by Mrs Rose Gowland for change of use of Farmhill Manor to a children’s nursery to cater for 70 to 80 children, together with alterations to the driveway to provide two passing places and widened access on to Upper Farmhill Lane.
Farmhill Manor was registered as a listed building in 2005 as a fine example of a minor country house converted from a substantial Manx farmhouse sometime between 1780 to 1825. A bid by owner Heritage Homes to have the building de-registered was rejected following a planning inquiry in 2008. It has been up for sale for more than a year.
No major works are proposed to the manor to accommodate the nursery.
Supporters said nursery places were hard to come by and with government no longer providing pre-schools there was more need for private facilities.
But objectors said the plan could create major traffic problems in the future. Some said there was no need for a nursery as there were already a number pre-schools in the area.
Recommending approval, planning officers said while there would be a significant increase in traffic, the road network could cope and it would not have a sufficient impact on road safety as to warrant refusal. However, a decision was deferred until the next sitting of the planning committee on January 14.
Mr Malarkey told the Manx Independent after the meeting: ‘Nobody is objecting to a nursery but they are talking about 70 to 80 children and the traffic that would generate is a major issue with residents.’
