The state of some of the island’s industrial parks is a ‘disgrace’, the Chief Minister told Tynwald.
Allan Bell made his comments as he was quizzed by Castletown MHK Richard Ronan over whether he would support the idea of regional enterprize zones.
Mr Bell said owners of industrial parks need to bring them up to acceptable standards. There were some industrial parks promoted for inward investment ‘which frankly are a disgrace’, he said, adding: ‘We can’t compete while we have such run-down and shabby estates.’
The Chief Minister said there were several such estates in Mr Ronan’s constituency that needed a facelift.
‘We have to make greater use of areas around the airport,’ he said. ‘We have to have high enough standards to attract people here and not settle for second best.’
Mr Ronan claimed 800 jobs have been lost in Castletown and the surrounding area in recent years. He accepted some of the industrial estates are in a ‘mess’.
Mr Bell said he understood and shared Mr Ronan’s concerns that regions outside of Douglas should receive their fair share of new economic activity: ‘This is one reason why it has been so important to progress infrastructure improvement works and support regional economies through the work of local regeneration committees.’
Mr Bell cited the example of Ramsey’s regeneration scheme which had resulted in the opening of 25 new businesses since work started.
He said it was true that some businesses are attracted to the east of the island, and the Douglas area in particular, because of the proximity of support services and a more extensive choice of property.
But recent examples of businesses attracted to other parts of the island included the new hotel in Ramsey and several new manufacturers in the south.
He said: ‘Changes recently made to the main financial assistance scheme have enabled the department [of Economic Development] to offer enhanced incentives to eligible businesses wishing to locate to areas other than Douglas.’
Mr Bell said bringing forward the Southern Area Plan would create greater certainty for potential investors.