Comment 1 51 Castlemona Avenue

51 Castlemona Avenue, DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, IM2 4EB Tel: 07624 495565

Planning Committee Department of Environment Food and Agriculture First Floor Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2SF

Dear Sirs

Re: PA 17/00963/13 – Creation of Fire Escape, retrospective planning application, 49 Castlemona Avenue

I am the direct neighbour of 49 Castlemona Avenue and write with reference to the above named planning application and would like to point out the following:-

• My property is situated directly beneath the fire escape.
• There is a platform situated at the top, for which I wish to express concern.
• This property had a previous application PA06/0422/B for a Car Park Platform which was refused.
• Has any building control checks been carried out with regard to underpinning and such like.
• I have concerns with regard to the potential risk of landslides due to the steep embankment and wonder what control measures were put in place when the fire escape was erected to minimize this risk.
• Will any restrictions be put in place with regard to the positioning of oil tanks, etc, which may be used to serve the property on any platforms along the route.
• Was a ground survey carried out to ensure the integrity of the bank?

Concern is further expressed regarding the need to apply for a retrospective planning application, as the fire escape has been built over a period of time without advice, as far as I am aware, from the Community Fire Safety Officer.

I am also led to believe that the public right of way has been obstructed which restricts free right of passage (i.e. Lover’s Lane). If permission is granted, does that mean that the public footpath now belongs to the residents of Castlemona Avenue to allow them to do projects themselves. I believe that Lover’s Lane is owned by Douglas Borough Council.

Further, the thorough fare at the back of the properties have been blocked off with permanent structures, which has blocked off any means of escape to those properties situated on that terrace.

Continued .../2

2

28th September 2017 Planning Committee re: PA 17/00963/B – 49 Castlemona Avenue

Would the Planning Department be able to give assurance that the ground is solid enough to support this structure and who will be responsible for any financial liabilities of damage caused as a result of any works that had been carried out.

If the Planning Committee are favourable to this planning application, would it mean that other properties in the area would be able to apply for the same works as a precedent has been set.

Yours sincerely

PATRICK DWYER

c.c. Douglas Borough Council