Ramsey Town Commissioners have submitted a new planning application seeking approval in principle to the siting of a new community sports hall on land between the Ramsey Park Hotel and the rugby pitch at Mooragh Promenade, Ramsey.
 
The application follows consideration of the planning committee’s earlier refusal of an application to locate the proposed facility on land between the existing Ramsey RUFC clubhouse and the Mooragh Promenade.
 
The Commissioners’ application details a review of the suitability and availability of 16 sites within the town as a location for a community sports hall.  The Commissioners say that following the assessment they remain of the view that the Mooragh Estate presents the most appropriate location for the proposed new facilities due to the established wide range of sports and recreation uses, the availability of existing parking, and the public ownership of land.  In particular, the availability of existing parking facilities, both on and off-road, reduces the overall site footprint requirement by removing the need to provide associated car parking. 
 
In their application the Commissioners indicate that the height of the proposed structure could be significantly reduced by using design solutions other than a traditional pitched roof and that a smaller footprint cannot be considered because the spatial requirements for the playing area are set by the sports. To reduce the floor size would preclude many sports from using the hall and render it non-viable.
 
The full application can be downloaded from the Commissioners’ website www.ramsey.gov.im and, once advertised, the Isle of Man Government website, www.gov.im.