The chairman of the regeneration committee has asked people not to pass judgement on the work at Laxey station until it is finished.

It follows condemnation of the scheme from railway enthusiasts who are calling for a public meeting to be held.

Steve Rodan SHK said: 'At the moment it is a big building site, and understandably there are concerns how it is all going to look.'

He said there had been support for the MER station to be improved as part of a wider regeneration project that includes creating a village square. Mr Rodan said he accepted the stone paving at the station looked 'overbearing' but said the appearance would soften and darken over time, adding: 'The end result will be a far more accessible public space using high quality materials appropriate to a conservation area - and, very important, a number of more historic features will be reintroduced once the ground works have been completed.'

He said these included timber benches by a local craftsman which replicate those that were previously in the station area, the return of the rustic kiosks which have been renovated, traditional-style lighting and gravel surfacing to non-pedestrian areas.

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