Castletown Square shambles

Summary

The request sought internal notes and decision records regarding the permanent closure of Castletown Square by DOI officers Kevin Almond and Paul Davis. The Department of Infrastructure released some correspondence but redacted significant portions citing exemptions related to ministerial decision-making and legal privilege.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) is the authority handling the permanent closure of Castletown Square.
• DOI officers Kevin Almond and Paul Davis were involved in the decision-making process.
• A consultation received 17 responses and a petition with 48 signatures.
• Respondents supported closure during summer months but objected to winter closures due to parking concerns.
• The TRO Team decided to progress the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) without amendment following the review.

Data Disclosed

• 17 responses
• 48 signatures
• 2025-05-28
• 2025-07-09
• 04 November 2024
• 07 October 2024
• 02 September 2024
• 65 pages
• 2 documents

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25
• Section 35

Original Request

Please provide a copy of the policy/ day books and any notes etc recording the decisions made by DOI Officers, particularly Kevin Almond and Paul Davis relating to the permanent closure of Castletown Square and the process suggested to Castletown Commissioners by the DOI. Also provide any documentation as to why this process took a calendar year to complete. The Officers had the delegated authority to sign this off so their references, discussions, decisions and rationale must be recorded prior to any meeting with Ministers so that this information cannot be hidden due to ministerial privilege. Regards

Data Tables (21)

Full Response Text

1 From: Davis, Paul Sent: 04 November 2024 15:44 To:

Almond, Kevin Cc: DOI, HighwayRegulations Subject: RE: Castletown Square Permanent Closure Good afternoon

Thank you for your email and confirming a review of responses received to consultation has now been completed. Based on these findings, the TRO Team will now progress the proposed TRO, without amendment. ,

Kind regards Paul
Paul Davis l TRO Manager Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building l Douglas l Isle of Man l IM1 2RF Tel:

From: <

Sent: 04 November 2024 15:36 To: Davis, Paul ; < ; Almond, Kevin

Subject: Castletown Square Permanent Closure Dear All, Please see below Highways response with regards to the closure of Castletown Square to vehicular traƯic on a permanent basis. Having reviewed all 17 responses and petition of 48 signatures, it is evident that respondents are supportive of the Square being closed during the Summer months. The main objection focuses on the available parking during the winter months and feel the loss of the parking will be detrimental to businesses due to the lack of available parking within the Square. To counter this argument, the summer months, which they are supportive of, will see a higher percentage of vehicular traƯic within Castletown, from visitors to the Island and Island residents. If there are no concerns with parking during the high tourist season, then the winter months, low tourists season, would automatically see an increase in available parking spaces available for those wishing to come to Castletown and shop. Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 3 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. http://www.twitter.com/iominfra http://www.facebook.com/iominfrastructure From: <

Sent: Monday, September 2, 2024 5:45 PM To: <

Subject: Square Hello,

Isle of Man. Giving you freedom to flourish 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. No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board. RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu. Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish. Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 25 Section 25 2 From: Davis, Paul <

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 12:01 PM To: < ; Almond, Kevin <

Cc: (DOI) < ; <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square, proposed closure Hi or Kevin Kind regards Paul
Paul Davis l TRO Manager Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building l Douglas l Isle of Man l IM1 2RF Tel:

From: (DOI) <

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 11:18 AM To: < ; Davis, Paul <

Subject: FW: Castletown Square, proposed closure From: <

Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 7:31 AM To: DOI, HighwayRegulations <

Subject: Castletown Square, proposed closure Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 3 Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Good Morning

Virus-free.www.avg.com Section 25 Section 35 Section 35 5  Email:

@ Website: www.gov.im/infrastructure  Please don't print this email unless you really need to. DOI Values: Communication; Respect; Teamwork; Recognition; Trust; Customer Service. 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. http://www.twitter.com/iominfra http://www.facebook.com/iominfrastructure From: <

Sent: 07 November 2023 10:11 To: Davis, Paul < ; <

Subject: Market Square Dear Both,

Best wishes

Isle of Man. Giving you freedom to flourish Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 35 Section 35 Section 35 1 From: <

Sent: 16 October 2024 19:08 To: DOI, HighwayRegulations Cc: Davis, Paul Subject: Market Square Attachments: Market_Square_Case_Study.pdf Hello, Best wishes

Section 25 Section 35 Section 25 Section 25 1 From: Davis, Paul Sent: 24 July 2024 15:07 To: Subject: RE: Castletown Square Hi

As discussed, this is just from a TRO perspective and how best to knit them altogether.

Kind regards Paul
Paul Davis l Regulations Manager Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building l Douglas l Isle of Man l IM1 2RF Tel:

From: <

Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:21 PM To: Davis, Paul <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square Hi Paul, Thanks for getting back to me.

I would appreciate this could be investigated after the MGP so that I can get back to the Commissioners prior to the renewal period of Oct 2024. Kind regards

Engagement Manager Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 35 4 From: <

Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 8:21 AM To: <

Cc: Davis, Paul <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square Hi Andrea I did do a proposed amendment Order for this one which is with Paul for checking. I have copied him into this message so I would imagine he will get back to you in due course.
Kind regards

l TRO Project Officer Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure 3rd Floor, Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF Tel: l Email: l Website: www.gov.im/infrastructure l www.reportaproblem.im Please visit us on:
 Please consider the environment – only print this e-mail if absolutely necessary. From: <

Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2024 7:59 AM To: < ; (DOI) <

Subject: FW: Castletown Square Good Morning and ,

Thanks

Traffic Engagement Manager Highway Services
Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF Phone:

Mobile:

Email:

Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 5 Website: www.gov.im/infrastructure  Please don't print this email unless you really need to. DOI Values: Communication; Respect; Teamwork; Recognition; Trust; Customer Service. 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. From:

Sent: 26 February 2024 10:16 To: < m> Subject: RE: Castletown Square Hi ,

From: <

Sent: 26 February 2024 09:59 To: <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square ~Hi, Yep, can you send a TRO doofer with all that on it?

Traffic Technician Highway Services Department of Infrastructure Ellerslie Depot. Crosby From: <

Sent: 26 February 2024 09:54 To: <

Subject: FW: Castletown Square Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 35 6 Hi , See the below response from . Malew and Arbory Street are to remain as they are. The new restriction to include from the Smelt monument to where the Malew and Arbroy restrictions start. Hope this makes it easier. Thanks

From: <

Sent: 23 February 2024 12:15 To: <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square Hi , Best wishes

From: <

Sent: Friday, February 23, 2024 10:48 AM To: <

Subject: Castletown Square Morning , Can we just go through the extent of the extension for the square. The red line below indicates where the current restrictions commence for the “paved street order” which allows vehicles to emter from the Malew and Arbory Street, I assume this is to remain as it is? Which would make the TROs more understanable for all. Basically what you are requesting is from the smelt mounment to where the red line is below to become restrcited to vehicles all year round. All disabled bay signs to be removed, disc parking signs to be removed and access only permitted for emergency vehicles. I will await your confirmation. Kind regards

Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 25 Section 25 7 1 From: Davis, Paul Sent: 28 October 2024 08:47 To: Moorhouse, Jason; Subject: RE: Castletown Square Closure Good morning Mr Moorhouse Apologies for the delay in my reply! There seems to be some confusion regarding the consultation period and claims it may have closed early. It may help if I clarify the circumstances as follows. The consultation period ran from 4th to 18th of October regarding a proposed TRO to prohibit vehicles on Market Square, Castletown. This consultation did not close early and all representations made during that period have now been passed to our planning team for review. The representations are now being considered before any decision is made on whether to progress the TRO. What has potentially caused some confusion is on 30 September, the Commissioners applied for a temporary extension to the closure of the Square that was in-play during the Summer months. This is therefore being processed in accordance with our temporary road closure procedures but has no bearing on the procedure currently ongoing for a permanent TRO. Kind regards Paul
Paul Davis l TRO Manager Highway Services l Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building l Douglas l Isle of Man l IM1 2RF Tel:

From: Moorhouse, Jason <

Sent: 27 October 2024 15:45 To: <

Cc: Davis, Paul <

Subject: RE: Castletown Square Closure Good Morning,

Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 35 Section 35 1 From: Sent: 07 November 2024 12:26 To: Parry, Stephen; Almond, Kevin Cc: Davis, Paul; Pedhuru, Moreblessing Subject: RE: Media enquiry: FW: Closure of Castletown Square Notice PER161 - 4204708 Good Afternoon Stephen, Please find some background information in relation to the closure of Castletown Square. We received 17 responses, 3 of which supported the closure and a petition of 48 signatures were received by the deadline of the 18th of October 2024. An additional petition was received with 223 signatures after the closure date. Please note that both petitions, did not state any reasons at all as to why they objected to the closure. Castletown Commissioners are the driving force behind the permanent closure, and the Department are obliged to review all correspondence both from objectors and supporters from a highway’s perspective. Castletown Commissioners had previously carried out engagement with regards to parking and pedestrianisation with the Square in which 592 responses were received. Question 3 of their engagement questionnaire asked, “Do you prefer the Square pedestrianised or as a carpark?” , out of the 592 respondents, 442 (74.79%) preferred the square to be pedestrianised. Castletown Commissioners have created additional oƯ road parking spaces within the grounds of the old Fire Station and provided disabled parking spaces at the back of the Town Hall which is on a flat level access. Having reviewed all the correspondence, it is evident that respondents are supportive of the Square being closed during the Summer months. The main objection focuses on the available parking during the winter months and feel the loss of the parking within the Square will be detrimental to businesses. To counter this argument, the summer months, which they are supportive of, will see a higher percentage of vehicular traƯic within Castletown, from visitors to the Island and Island residents. Castletown can manage successfully with no parking within the Square during the peak tourist season, then the winter months, with low tourists, events i.e., TT, Southern 100 & MGP, would automatically see an increase in available parking spaces available for those wishing to come to Castletown and shop From a Highways point of view, Castletown Commissioners have demonstrated that the closure of the Square has had no detrimental impact on the safe flow of traƯic. Kind regards

From: Parry, Stephen <

Sent: 07 November 2024 09:41 To: Almond, Kevin <

Cc: Davis, Paul < ; <

Subject: Media enquiry: FW: Closure of Castletown Square Notice PER161 - 4204708
Hi Kevin, Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 Section 25 2 The have been in touch in relation to the attached FoI on Castletown Square, which reveals that 17 representations were made against the proposal and a petition with 48 signatures was also against. In the interest of balance, they’d like to know how many representations were made overall and how many were in support of the move. I know that helped gather the info initially, but that’s he’s away this week. Can you help, please, in his absence? Thanks Stephen From: Johnson, Le

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