Update on Douglas promenade first phase and results of consultation

The Department of Infrastructure received planning consent (PA12/01327/B) for the first phase of the refurbishment of Douglas Promenade on 20 December 2012. This phase involves reconstructing the Promenade/Victoria Street junction; the Broadway bound carriageway and the footway on the building (or landward) side of Loch Promenade between Peveril Square and the Royal Bank of Scotland building. If the Department receive the necessary Treasury and Tynwald approvals, this work will commence after MGP.

Following an earlier consultation in 2011 the Department prepared more detailed proposals based on the initial feedback received and a further public consultation on the more detailed proposals took place between 2 October and 9 November 2012. The Department received 146 responses and more than 67% of respondents were supportive of the Department’s approach to designing the Douglas Promenade project including the following features:

• The improvement to the Promenades is a key priority for the Island;
• A wide road to facilitate rapid emergency access and overtaking parking vehicles;
• Relocation of chevron parking from the seaward side to the town centre side of the Promenade;
• No bus lane is to be provided;
• The retention of the same number of parking spaces between the Sea Terminal building and Broadway;
• The retention of the pedestrian crossing facilities at the Sea Terminal building, Regents Street, Granville Street, and Broadway;
• The relocation of the pedestrian crossing outside the Villa Marina Colonnade, Church Road and Senna Slip to the Church Road/Promenade junction outside the Sefton Hotel;
• The relocation of the two existing taxi rank bays from Tower House and Villa Marina Colonnade to the Loch Promenade adjacent to Regent Street and outside the Gaiety Theatre respectively; (The coach parking is to remain at the same location opposite to the Villa Marina Colonnade;
• The extension of the centre of the carriageway island refuge from Walpole Avenue to Victoria Street to improve pedestrian access;
• The Marine Gardens (Sunken Gardens) and Queens Gardens are not to be altered;
• The existing sea wall is not to be rebuilt or altered;
• The promenade walkway is not to be altered and the existing use justifies its current size;
• The removal of the existing dedicated cycleway lane and the designation of the whole walkway as a shared pedestrian and cycling area;
• The construction of a single track tramway with passing places;
• Use of natural stone materials at high profile locations such as the Victoria Clock, Regents Street junction, Howard Street junction, Granville Street junction, Senna slip junction and the Villa/Gaiety Colonnade.

David Cretney MHK Minister for Infrastructure said :

'I am pleased that the public continue to support this important project and have confirmed they are satisfied with the outline design proposals which are being developed by the Department of Infrastructure.'