The block paving in Castletown’s pedestrianised town centre should be replaced and the work funded by the regeneration committee said the town’s Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber made its request in a letter to the government’s Regeneration Committee (copied to the town’s regeneration committee), they wrote: ‘The present surface was laid down over 20 years ago and unfortunately the standard of block laying and detailed finish at that time was not as good as schemes undertaken today. This has resulted in ongoing issues regarding the blocks, which have resulted in pedestrians falling. In the last 12 months quite a number of people have fallen due to uneven and loose blocks.
‘The blocks within the streets are now looking badly worn and grubby and are not conducive of creating a good ambience in the town centre for the shoppers and visitors.’
As the groundwork is in place for the current paving, replacement blocks could be laid relatively easily, they wrote. Douglas and Ramsey have had new paving, which has enhanced the area and increased footfall a similar scheme could bring the same benefits to the town.