Friends of the Earth has queried whether the brief for the central Douglas draft masterplan has taken into account the government’s commitment to sustainability and reducing the island’s carbon footprint.
The plan was drawn up by urban designers IBI Taylor Young, and showcased in the Strand Shopping Centre for three days earlier this month so that members of the public could see images of how Douglas might look.
But reaction has been by no means universally favourable, with some expressing concern over the amount of spending potentially involved – and over plans to demolish and replace the ‘iconic’ Sea Terminal.
IoM Friends of the Earth’s main concerns centre on the contribution (or otherwise) the plans might make to the island’s progress towards sustainability.
It’s understood that in February a number of ‘stakeholder’ discussions were held to inform the planners’ work, but the group says it isn’t aware of any of the island’s main ‘green groups’ having been invited and describes this as ‘a glaring omission’.
Government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent from the 1990 levels by 2050. If this is to be met, however, IoMFoE stresses big changes in behaviour need to be taking place right now.
Co-ordinator Cat Turner said: ‘In Government’s Agenda for Change, there was an explicit commitment to encouraging sustainable economic activity – which we wholeheartedly applaud. But we’d query whether dismantling perfectly serviceable buildings, to replace them with new ones at potentially great carbon cost, is consistent with these and the other aims and commitments that government has articulated.
‘Further, we wonder whether the emphasis on retail establishments is really appropriate at a time when a re-engineering of the economy is taking place all around the world.
‘I’d suggest that money would be far better spent on breathing new life into existing buildings and spaces, and spending money on retrofitting them with better energy efficiency so as to make them less expensive to run and more appealing to the population.
‘There are many commentators who suggest that - at this time of world environmental challenge - encouraging the continued growth of consumer culture does no favours to people or planet. We all need to learn to do better with less, and to value pleasant experiences and places over the acquisition of stuff.
‘Personally I’d like to see the focus on creating more spaces where people can sit and enjoy a view for free; more community buildings where they can converse and network; more local marketplaces where Manx producers can sell their wares for fair prices, without involving the transport of food and things over needless distances; and less focus on extracting families’ hard-earned cash from their wallets and feeding it to large retail corporations.
‘But that’s my view – I’d love to hear what other townspeople have to say.’
IoMFoE is suggesting that a public meeting be held to allow people to air their concerns over the direction Douglas is taking, to share what they love about the island’s capital and to discuss what might make it an even better place to live.
The group says the focus needs to be on helping townspeople and businesses gain the resilience to help themselves, rather than relying on public services. ‘We need less “impressive” and more considered plans for the development of the town,’ said Cat.
Anyone interested in attending a meeting to discuss ideas for the development of Douglas can contact iomfoe@manx.net or write to or visit the group at the Green Centre.
If there’s enough support in the next week or two, they will organise a public meeting.