TT 2008 gets under way but have the organizers broken the law?

The first practice for this year’s race may have finally got underway, but the Manx Herald has been made aware that the organizers may have broken the law in order to ‘facilitate’ the marshalling, and viewing, on parts of the course.

It is understood, in response to the damning verdict by Coroner Michael Moyle, who investigated the deaths of two spectators and competitor Marc Ramsbotham during last year’s event, the organizers identified the need for changes to the ‘car parks’ at the 26^th Milestone and the Black Hut.

The lay-by at the 26^th Milestone is within a prohibited area, so not even marshals are allowed in the area, except under certain conditions, and the Black Hut is within a restricted area.

It is understood by the Manx Herald that the race organisers, ACU Events Ltd, in consultation with officials from the Department of Tourism and Leisure, identified an alternative site, on the opposite side of the road, at the 26^th Milestone, and an extension to the existing Black Hut car-park, as suitable to meet their requirements.

It is believed this took place in early April following which the Department of Transport were requested to carry out the works.

Apparently the DOT informed the DOTL that planning permission would be required, before any work could be carried, but the DOTL were not happy with this advice.

However, it would appear that the DOTL contacted the planning department, for confirmation that a planning application was required, and received the unwelcome response that two planning applications would have to be submitted.

What else was said during that conversation has yet to be clarified as a letter, accompanying the two planning applications, which were received by the planners, on 17^th April 2008, says that the DOT have been requested “to carry out these works to ensure they are completed in time for the 2008 TT Races which are just over 40 days away.”

So regardless of the fact that the DOTL have been told they need planning permission they decide to crack on anyway.

As if to make this illegal action acceptable, the letter goes on to say “I acknowledge, that if the planning application is refused, we will have to return the areas to their original state.”

The Manx Herald wonders whether this will now be the accepted practice for anybody seeking to develop on the Island.

Perhaps Mr Ferguson-Lacey or Dan Tynan will be allowed to take advantage of this new laid-back approach to development control, or do the new rules only apply to government department’s; after all they do make the law so perhaps they should also be allowed to break them.

The Manx Herald contacted the DOTL and a spokesperson confirmed what was said in the letter; so it wasn’t a mistake.

The DOT was contacted for their comments, and the impression was gained that they had been put under pressure, by the DOTL, to comply with the request to carry out the works; notwithstanding their knowledge that planning approval was needed and not yet granted.