A ?21million redevelopment of Douglas promenade has been altered to try to answer the concerns of visually impaired people.

There had been an outcry over the lack of controlled crossings along the length of the promenade, in a design that focused on 'shared space'.

Last week, Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne agreed to undertake a blindfolded walk to experience the difficulties blind people face.

He says the exercise was hugely valuable and has reintroduced pedestrian crossings to the scheme.

Another change has been to widen the pedestrian walkway at the narrowest part of the promenade by some two metres. Mr Gawne hopes this will answer the concerns of those worried about sharing the walkway with the horse tram service.

Unveiling the new scheme today (Friday) Mr Gawne said the new elements will be submitted as amendments to the existing planning application. He hopes he can present the scheme, approved by planners, to the November or December sitting of Tynwald.

It means work would get under way early in 2016.

Mr Gawne said: 'I hope people will now get behind the Department’s efforts to create a Promenade in our capital that we will all be proud of.'

Pictured: the 'cultural quarter' of the promenade at Broadway

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