A multi-storey car park on the former Douglas Corporation Lake Road site, with a bridge across the river linking it with the road to the south, is being suggested as a way of improving retailing in the town.

Councillors are backing a retail report by the Department of Trade and Industry, but feel not enough emphasis has been placed on parking, particularly on the edge of the main shopping area.

Leader of the Council David Christian (pictured) says the Lake Road idea is one of a number of suggestions in a joint submission with the Douglas Development Partnership (audio file attached):

The Corporation's submission to the DTI also questions whether new retail units of the size suggested in the study could be supported by the town's existing infrastructure.

The DTI report says further retail investment is only likely to take place if units of between two and four thousand square feet - larger than most of the existing Victorian stock - can be provided.