BADLY planned and a terrible waste of money is how one tenant of the new food park at Peel has described the development.
The new retail development hit the headlines last year after it was reported that the entrance was too narrow causing problems for delivery lorries entering and leaving.
According to Peel Commissioner Ian Davison who produces and sells Davison’s ice cream, not only are the gates narrow and awkwardly angled, but so many delivery lorries have collided with them they haven’t even worked for months.
Mr Davison said: ‘This system has only worked for about one week and the gate is the wrong angle.’
To compound the problems, he said further money was about to be squandered because the retail park itself needed work on the drainage system and resurfacing which would necessitate removing the gates and then reinstating them when it was finished.
‘It’s a waste of tax payers’ money putting it in knowing they are going to take it out again. You shouldn’t concrete it into the ground knowing full well it was going to be dug up for new drainage,’ he said.
He added that when the gates were removed they were likely to be reinstated at a modified angle to improve access.
‘I’m told the architects have said there is no problem with the design but I understand when they put them back they are going to move them. Why? That suggests to me they are aware of a problem.’
Mr Davison said he understood the cost of putting in the gates and security fencing had been £88,000.
‘Basically this is our money and they don’t seem to care,’ he said.
Environment Food and Fisheries Minister Phil Gawne said he was aware that some tenants had been upset about the issue with the gates.
‘There’s a variety of issues some of them predictable and some we were not aware of.
‘It is true that part of the security fencing has to come down again because of another part of the work and this will cost about £5,000. It’s disappointing because we should have known about it.
‘But we did not expect to be able to bring forward the next stage of the work so quickly.’
He said the security at the food park was needed to meet British Retail Consortium standards.
‘I’m the first to admit there have been teething problems but it is going well and we are pleased to invest creating more jobs for the island which has to be a good thing.’
