DEFA Minister Richard Ronan says he welcomes the opportunity for further debate over the future of Knockaloe Farm.
More than a hundred local people attended a public meeting last night to oppose government plans to sell the site. A former internment camp that held almost 24,000 inmates, Knockaloe was subsequently an experimental farm for many years, and was the venue of this year's Royal Manx Agricultural Show.
Mr Ronan said: 'I'd like to thank Mrs Costain, Captain of the Parish, and Patrick Commissioners for organising the meeting and so many local people for attending to let us know their views and to listen to some of our considerations.
'As promised, my Department will now discuss the matter further with Mr Anderson MHK and the commissioners in the coming weeks and months. There were some exciting and innovative ideas and suggestions and what is important now is that we gather information, sit down and talk and follow these up in the right way in order to allow balanced decisions to be taken.'
A further public meeting will be held in six months to review progress.
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