A meeting of the Ballasalla & District Resident’s Association was held in Ballasalla village hall on 19^th January 2009.

The meeting was attended by 47 Villagers including Commissioners and the MHK for Malew & Santon Graham Cregeen. The meeting was chaired by Mr Donald Whittaker, a BADRA committee member, in the absence of BADRA’s Chairman Mrs Gill Roy.

Crossag Farm was the first subject and, Treasurer, Mr David Allsebrook explained the whole High Court experience and result; thanking the 20 witness for BADRA who had given written evidence and given him power of attorney to represent them.

In explaining the failure of J G Kelly to win the Petition of Doleance, it was pointed out that the Acting Deemster Sullivan had stated that she supported the ‘promise’ made by Deemster Luft, in planning circular 7/91, to the people of Ballasalla, that no major development should take place in the village until a village plan had been produced. This was despite Government and J G Kelly having declared that the ‘promise’ was irrelevant and expired.

The cost of being represented in the High Court, the meeting was informed, was in excess of £20,000, and although we had been granted by the court 100% costs, the way court costs are worked out, we shall have to wait and see how much we actually recover.

This touched on another subject, the on-going Petition of Grievance, taken to Tynwald Hill last July 2008 by Mr Donald Whittaker on BADRA’s behalf. This has been ‘picked up’ and evidence is to be heard on the 9^th February 2009. This petition addresses the imbalance of where a developer can pursue the planning system until objectors can no longer afford to continue.

The long running saga of Poachers Pocket came next, with the present applications, for 2 storey houses, to be heard on appeal in the next couple of months; again a proposal contrary to the many inspectors’ reports for the development.

It was stated by Mr Allsebrook that BADRA would find it very difficult to except conditions on planning decisions, as on many occasions conditions have been either totally altered or watered down. Furthermore, even when alterations have been done, for example the building of a berm to reduce possible flooding, the alterations are detrimental to the environment, as in this case where the raising of ground levels has caused the death of many trees.

Praise was given in the setting up of a select committee, to investigate the planning process in view of the Poachers Pocket, by Graham Cregeen MHK, and its resulting report. However, some concern was aired from the floor, although the head of planning had some of his delegated powers removed, it does not seem to of made any difference. Concern was also voiced as to why it is always Ballasalla that has to be strong and fight these things when the rest of the Island suffers the same problems.

This moved things on to DoLGE’s planning review, and the meeting was informed that submissions had been made from BADRA, and individual members; and a call was made for more submissions to sent.

The proposed refurbishment within Clagh Vane was brought up by Mr Eddie Power, BADRA Hon Secretary. He pointed out that to the best of his knowledge virtually all the tenants around the north side of the entrance had been allocated new properties. He added that upon gaining planning permission, and finance, the entrance will be widened; and the area north of the entrance will be used as a compound, after demolition of the houses, for storage etc during the refurbishments else where on the estate. Then it is possible some form of properties will be built on the site but, as he had previously stated, would be not only reliant on planning permission but also Tynwald granting the finance.

CoMINs decision, which will be laid before Tynwald, backing the Inspector’s recommendation Turkeylands should be the location for disposal of Bottom Ash, from the incinerator, after the failure of the Archallagan application, was next. Colas had kindly provided, earlier in the day, a pamphlet on the treatment and management of Bottom Ash. This was handed around. They have also agreed to make a presentation to members at a later date. Mr Allsebrook reminded the meeting that some 5 or so years earlier Government had said Turkeylands would not be considered.

Although the meeting accepted that Colas are probably the best in the Island to deal with the waste, the meeting was still concerned; as it was felt that there was no confidence in government to satisfactorily handle all the other matters involved with the disposal, and to ensure everything was safe and done safely. In short the members were not happy.

Transportation of the ash through the village and surrounding area was very much a concern. One of the suggestions from the floor was the repair and reinstatement of the road through Ballawoods; so trucks could avoid the village. Dust was still a concern.

Members were informed that this was not the only option possible as it has been mooted that SITA may well ‘mature’ and recycle everything themselves at the Incinerator.

The application by Dandara for a roundabout north of Glashen Close, on the A5 Douglas Road, was met with a resounding ‘No’ from all. The meeting was reminded that the previous 2 applications had been turned down; so the question ‘why’ was also raised. Members were encouraged to put in objections to the plan.

The subject of the By-Pass/Relief road was raised and it was decided that it should be pursued vigorously. Concern was aired on the subject of traffic through the village from all routes, the state of the Crossag Road, the damage to Bridge Road and HGVs coming from Cross Four Ways.

The issue of a Village Plan brought the decision that residents must push for this in the light of the 7/91 ‘Promise’ having been supported now by two Deemsters and an Independent Inspector. On the subject of preparing a draft plan, a vote was held which unanimously supported the decision that the Commissioners, the residents’ elected representatives, should do this with the assistance from all interested parties. It was felt that a draft plan from the village rather than from government was a better idea.

A number of other issues were raised under ‘Any Other Business’ before the meeting was brought to a close.