Horse tram track extension case to be resubmitted

Work is underway to finish a financial case for the extension of the Isle of Man's horse tram tracks ahead of a debate in June, the infrastructure minister has said.

A business plan to extend the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway the full length of the capital's promenade had been expected to be available at the May sitting of Tynwald.

Tim Crookall said his department was "doing its best" to resubmit the plan later this week so it can be ready for next month's sitting after receiving feedback from the Treasury.

The latest estimate for the completion of the project is thought to be in the region of £2m.

The tracks currently run from Derby Castle to Broadway, which is about half of the original 1.6 mile (2.6km) tramway.

Politicians were previously told that £1.2m built into the funding for the Douglas Promenade redevelopment scheme to finish the tram lines had been spent elsewhere on the project, which concluded in March 2022.

The retention of the tramway along the full stretch of the seafront has been backed by two successive previous political administrations.

In March, Tynwald members agreed to make a decision on whether or not it should be funded - based on the business case along with having Treasury concurrence for the money - ahead of the end of the current term of office for MHKs.

Defending the delay in bringing that motion forward, Crookall said the Department of Infrastructure was responding to the questions posed by the Treasury and the Council of Ministers.

He said this was so it could "resubmit the business case and bring it forward at the second attempt so that we've got it in June Tynwald".

"We are doing our best," he added.

Treasury Minister Chris Thomas confirmed the plan had been considered by both his department and the Council of Ministers in April.

The Treasury, he said, was now waiting for design and feasibility documents, and it would be considered again once this information was received.

Thomas said Treasury would then be in a position to provide a further update, including an "assessment of costs".

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