Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation 2

Summary

The requester asked for all responses to the Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation, including statistics on support and opposition. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed all requested information, providing 614 pages across 4 documents containing the consultation responses.

Key Facts

• The consultation ran from 23 February 2021 to 6 April 2021.
• The Department of Infrastructure released 614 pages of information in 4 documents.
• The outcome of the request was 'All information sent' on 1 June 2022.
• Respondents expressed strong support for closing Marine Drive to motor vehicles to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
• One respondent highlighted accessibility issues for mobility scooter users regarding parking and gate design.

Data Disclosed

• 23 Feb 2021
• 6 Apr 2021
• 2022-05-06
• 2022-06-01
• 614
• 4
• 1977

Original Request

Hello, Now that a decision has been made following the Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation and announced by the DoI Minister, please could you send me the responses to the Marine Drive Road Closure Proposal consultation which were emailed to doiconsultation@gov.im and sent to the postal address noted on the consultation which ran from 23 Feb 2021 to Closed 6 Apr 2021. Please also provide the number of people that responded to the consultation, the number of people that were in favour of closing Marine Drive to Vehicles and the number of people that opposed the closure of Marine Drive to vehicles. Thank you

Data Tables (602)

Full Response Text

Appendix 1 1 From: Sent: 07 March 2021 12:40 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   My wife and I regularly walk on Marine Drive, especially the southern and middle sections.
Since the closure of the road to through traffic in 1977, it is of no practical use to motorists, and motor vehicles on the northern and southern sections only endanger and discourage walkers and cyclists. The closure of the whole of Marine Drive to motor vehicles would make the road much safer and more pleasant, and greatly improve everyone's enjoyment of it.
I am strongly in favour of the closure.

--

Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 06 April 2021 16:36 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: marine drive consultation Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Broadly speaking we support the idea of making the whole of the Marine Drive a pedestrian and cyclist only route.   It would help if there is a designated cycle lane the whole length of it to give pedestrians peace of mind.  We would  suggest that there is parking provision at the Port Soderick end (part of the broad opening of the road that end  could be kept open), and indeed, sufficient at the Douglas end too.  Most importantly the paths should be regularly  inspected and maintained, including clipping of verges.  Existing seats and picnic tables should be kept and  maintained in good order, and if possible added to.  Litter bins and dog waste bins to be adequate in number and  regularly emptied.      (Laxey)    Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 05 April 2021 10:07 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Please close the whole of Marine Drive (Keristal to Douglas Toll Gate to cars, vans and motorcycles allowing  pedestrians and fitness addicts to move safely on the road.              Redacted Redacted Red acte d 1 From: Sent: 05 April 2021 09:54 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    It’s a great idea and it will get people walking more. The health benefits weigh out everything else.  Plenty of places to drive on the Island to look at nice views, let’s get people moving more!  Thank you    Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 05 April 2021 09:49 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    I wish to register my support of the Government in restricting vehicles from Marine Drive.    Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 05 April 2021 09:40 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    I fully support the pedestrianisation  of marine drive, it is unviable and redundant for road traffic therefore with a  refurb of the surface and removal of overgrowth from the pavement sections it would service as a coastal walkway.    Thank you for the opportunity of comment.      Douglas Resident      Sent from my iPhone    Redacted Redacted Redacte d 1 From: Sent: 23 March 2021 13:44 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Good afternoon    I wish to support the Government’s proposal to pedestrianise all of Marine Drive.          Redacted Redacted Redac t d 1 From: Sent: 21 March 2021 10:16 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Dear Madam,  I am in support of closing an additional part of the Marine Drive from the Pigeon stream car park to enable safer  walking, cycling and use by people in mobility scooters or wheelchairs. The reason for this is that I use a mobility  scooter and enjoy going on the Marine drive. I need a parking space to allow my Carer to unload my scooter from a  ramp at the rear of the car. I cannot walk. We park at the car park and with difficulty get the scooter out. If the car  park is busy it is impossible because there is no proper disabled parking space to get the scooter out. It is sometimes  very difficult on the road because of cars.  The current access to the closed area is quite difficult to get a mobility scooter through the design of the gate needs  to be able to be used by mobility scooters and wheelchairs. I have considerable experience of developments so  would be happy to look at the plans for any proposals and assist the Department.  Kind Regards        Sent from my iPad    Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 17 March 2021 10:03 To: DOI, Consultations Cc: Subject: Marine drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   Yes please from me. I just love the idea of the drive being closed to all traffic except walkers and cyclists.

I use the marine drive frequently on my bicycle. The consultation is a big step forward in helping produce safer roads for walkers horse riders and cyclists. The roads have become just so busy these days.

Please though. Just because it’s closed. Don’t stop maintaining it as rock slip and debris left on the road is hazardous to everyone using it.

Plus is there any chance pavements could be installed between Laxey and Onchan? I’d walk a lot more into laxey and into Onchan if I wasn’t being nearly squashed by hurried traffic on the long stretches without a safe walking place.

Many thanks

Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 16 March 2021 20:19 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Hello,  I have no problem in stopping cars on the Marine Drive but ... PLEASE allow enough parking for people to drive there  and then enjoy the walk.  The parks on Douglas Head Road would not be sufficient; you must allow parking at the  beginning of Marine Drive, with a turning circle.  Thank you,      Redacted Redacted Red t 1 From: Sent: 08 March 2021 20:38 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: marine drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.  

I am responding to you asked for opinions regarding the Marine drive proposal to make it a vehicle free area.

I agree with this and think it is a good idea to have a safe area for walkers, cyclists and other users.

I think that the proposed area should be from the pigeon stream car park to the Port Soderick area proposed. This would allow a well defined place for vehicles to park.
A cycle lane from the toll gate to the car park could be put in to keep cyclists safer if that was the case. The fencing and footpath needs repairing to keep walkers safe. In the closed area a separate cycle lane and separate walking lane should be marked. This should help avoid accidents. Currently walkers and cyclists share the same space. Walkers often walk in the central carriage way on the open road part of the Marine drive as I have often witnessed.

The more areas that cyclists and walkers can go the better in my opinion.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely.

Sent from my Galaxy

Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 24 February 2021 08:20 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Close Marine Drive to Vehicles Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.  

Good morning I'd like to express my view on Marine Drive please. I would like it closed to vehicles asap as most of the traffic using this road are only driving up to get to the closed to vehicles section so they can exercise , walk their dog etc. The others are or boy racers using it as a race track. I've lived in Douglas for 30 years and feel this would benefit residents immensely having a vehicle free walk with stunning views close to town.

Many thanks

Sent from my Galaxy

Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 24 February 2021 09:20 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Closure of Marine Drive Dear     I just wanted to provide some comments to the proposal to close Marine Drive to vehicles.  I am definitely supportive of the measures, although from an active travel perspective it seems like the route is out  on a bit of a limb and doesn’t really connect into any current commuting routes into Douglas.    My only concern with the proposals is what measures will be taken as regards the exercising of dogs.     The road already has a reputation as a dog toilet and if leisure activities are to be encouraged I think that this needs  some thought. I think that a small minority of dog owners use the seclusion of the road to allow their dogs to fowl  the area, with the reduced fear of being spotted not picking up the mess.    It would also help if the exercising of dogs was restricted to animals being kept on leashes. As someone that does do  some running on a regular basis, it is always a concern when you come across an unleashed dog. For me personally,  this is probably the most pressing reason that keeps me from running this route regularly.     I give you permission to use my comments in your consultation, but would ask that you remove my name and  address if they are used in any final publication.    Many thanks              Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 24 February 2021 07:58 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Closure to traffic of Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any  links.    Marvellous idea. 👍        Sent from my iPhone    Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Colin Whiteway Colin@braddan.im Sent: 12 March 2021 09:12 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Consultation on Marine Drive closure Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   Good morning    The Commissioners’ carefully considered the consultation document last week and understand the dilemma the  Department is facing and the need to reduce the risk to pedestrians and cyclists created by motor vehicles.    They agree with the principle but are concerned that closing the full extent of the Marine Drive could create  problems by pushing cars onto the Head Road or the Port Soderick Road.    What they would suggest is that the road is closed at the Douglas end at Pigeon Stream car park, and at the other  end at the first bend of Keristal (where the Commissioners have a picnic bench).  From our experiences there are only a few cars parked at the Port Soderick end, so there could be sufficient space  for 10 or more cars parked adjacent to the pavement, or even more if there were chevron parking.    The Commissioners hope that this has been helpful and feel it would be an acceptable compromise to the proposal  that would fully close the road.    Regards      Colin Whiteway     J C Whiteway MBA  Clerk to Braddan Commissioners  Close Corran  Union Mills  Braddan  IM4 4LZ    Telephone: 01624 852808  Facsimile: 01624 852180  Email: colin@braddan.im   Web: www.braddan.im             Redacted 2 WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any  other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e‐ mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.  The views expressed in this email do not necessarily express the views of Braddan Parish Commissioners and are not to be relied upon without subsequent  written confirmation by the Clerk.  No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of Braddan Parish Commissioners with any party by e‐mail without express  written confirmation by the Clerk of Braddan Parish Commissioners.   Please don't print this email unless you really need to    1 From: Sent: 24 February 2021 14:27 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Fwd: Marine Drive Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.  

---------- Forwarded message --------- From:

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2021 at 14:09 Subject: Marine Drive To: doiconsultatioon@gov.im

Good afternoon,

I would like to submit the following views to the consultation.

• if Marine Drive is to be closed to traffic and only accessed by pedestrians and cyclists then the roads and pavements should be resurfaced and maintained to provide a safe walking/cycling surface.

• a car parking area should be identified and put in place so cars can safely be left.

• increased dog excrement bins should be provided.

• in places where cliff erosion has occurred these should be safely and securely barriered.

• a viewing area with seating and telescope should be provided so the wildlife on sea and land can be enjoyed.

• information boards on the birds, mammals and sealife in the area should be provided.

Yours faithfully

Redacted Redacted Redacted Redacted 1 From: Sent: 06 April 2021 23:34 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: MARINA DRIVE CONSULTATION Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   To the Highways Services Division:

Having Marina Drive closed to cars either entirely or as much as possible is an absolutely great idea. It is a fab place to go running, cycling etc; cars are unwanted.

Furthermore, there is the practicality that having it fixed up for cars would be expensive for little return; connection from Douglas to the other places on this side of the isle is best served by other roads; the money is best spent elsewhere.

Marina Drive should be for leisure.

Best regards,

Redacted Redacted Redacte d 1 From: Sent: 25 February 2021 17:50 To: DOI, Consultations Subject: Marine Drive : proposed closure Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or  following any links.   I am in total support of the Department’s proposal fully to close the Marine Drive to motorized traffic. This has not  been a ‘through road’ for more than forty years, and thus serves no traffic purpose. On those sections that are  currently open to motor traffic, walkers and cyclists are continually aware of the noise and distur

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