The Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture is praising the community for working with his Department to determine the future of Knockaloe Farm.
Richard Ronan MHK was speaking ahead of a public meeting in Patrick Schoolroom on Wednesday (20th May) at 7.30pm.
The meeting will discuss the Department’s current preferred option of keeping the farm in Government ownership but leasing the buildings to a private investor to potentially create facilities for artisan food and heritage use with an element of education.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) ceased to operate the 337 acres as a farm in 2010 and it was given a five-year window to review its future.
The site has historic significance as it housed internees during World War One.
Options for its future were discussed at a public meeting hosted by Patrick Commissioners last September, where there was opposition to selling the farm.
Since then, DEFA has listened to feedback and worked with the Commissioners, Captain of the Parish Pat Costain and Glenfaba MHK David Anderson as well as interested parts of the business community in an attempt to reach a solution that is acceptable to the community but relieves some of the financial burden on the Department and offers the potential for economic development.
Of six ideas that emerged, the preferred option is to let the farm buildings to a private operator on a long lease to develop as a ‘high quality, unique development with a steer towards artisan food, heritage and education’. Clearly, the Department will need to consider other views as the project develops to ensure that it is commercially viable.
It is the intention at this stage that the agricultural land would continue to be let out but with improved public access across parts of it.
The long-term lease agreements for the Royal Manx Agricultural Show and the Mart would be honoured.
The Minister said: ‘Following last year’s meeting, we have held constructive discussions over a number of options and it’s thanks to everyone’s desire to see Knockaloe put to good use that we have reached this stage.
‘At next week’s meeting, we will talk through the options and explain our preferred option in more detail and welcome further input.
‘I am pleased that we are working collectively to achieve a viable future for Knockaloe, its community and our economy.’
David Talbot, a Patrick Commissioner, said: ‘We are pleased that the Minister and the Department have listened to the concerns of the Commissioners and the wider community as expressed at the public meeting with regard to the future usage of the farm buildings and surrounding land known as Knockaloe Farm.
‘While the usage as an experimental farm has long since gone, the Commissioners believe that the meeting’s call – “that the land is used to facilitate agricultural, community and educational purposes” – will continue to honour the spirit of the Henry Bloom Noble legacy. We look forward to further, constructive discussions.’
