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From: To: DEFA, Planning; Brazier, Ross Subject: Fwd: PA21/00483/CON Laxey Glen Road Weir demolition Date: 04 May 2021 10:54:51 Attachments: LAxey GLen ROad River Wall 21.300.b.doc Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links. PA21/00483/CON Laxey Glen Road Weir demolition This application  is specifically for the demolition elements of PA21/00300/B.  As such it involves the demolition of the Glen Road weir across the Laxey River. I object to this on the following grounds: 1 No full elevations, drawings or record have been submitted  showing the weir as was, as currently is against which to consider the proposal.  It is  / has been an industrial archaeological structure of considerable importance to Laxey both in terms of its architecture and its history and should not be allowed to be demolished without being properly recorded. 2 The demolition of the remainder of the weir and the resulting drop in river level at this point will mean that water will not be able to get into the side weir and continue to flow along it as it currently does.  This will have an adverse impact on the environment of this locality. 3 No details of the materials of the proposed replacement boulders in the river have been submitted. Therefore they cannot be assessed in terms of the their suitability as a replacement in Laxey's Conservation Area whose heart is Laxey River. In any event they will appear out of place adjacent to bare off- white concrete wall slabs which are proposed in PA21/00300/B and to which I have also objected. For reference I attach my objection to the corresponding planning applications PA21/00300/B. Kind regards Redacted Redacted

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PA21/00300/B Glen Road River Wall, Laxey

To put the scheme in true perspective the application should show the full weir structure that was in situ prior to the flood and should seek retrospective permission - both planning and Registered Building Consent - for the demolition of this weir structure. This structure was fully visible from Glen Road. It is a matter of concern that by building a wall 6ft high all view of this former weir and even the side weir to remain will be hidden from the passing public and visitors on the Village Heritage Trail on Glen Road. This main river weir should have been properly recorded prior to its demolition. As it has not and as important views of the river are to be obstructed by construction of the new wall the applicants in conjunction with the Garff Commissioners and the Laxey & Lonan Heritage Trust should put in place a viewing area together with information board on the Glen Road side of the river about the weir and its former importance to Laxey.

It has to be borne in mind that it was not the existence of the weir per se that caused the flooding of houses in Glen Road; as coincidentally illustrated on the attached photograph of the weir, it was the accumulation of abandoned debris from upstream lands, many of them owned by Government, being washed down stream resulting in blocking of the weir that caused the flooding. That has been confirmed by official reports into the flooding. At other times of the river being in spate, when there was no such debris, there was no overspill into Glen Road or flooding of properties – see attached photograph.

While it is appreciated that the side weir structure is to be retained, it also should be appreciated that the existence of this structure allows water to pass along the lade to the former power station, now Swales store and then back into the river. Between the lade and the river is an amenity area, shown in the applicant’s photographs, part of which is used as an informal children’s BMX circuit. By totally removing the main weir across the Laxey River and thereby lowering the river level at this point, it is assumed that this will result in the loss of water flowing along this lade. The lade area which is alongside a public footpath extending from here right down to Old Laxey will therefore become a stagnant backwater without flowing water through it. This is not an environmentally friendly proposal. The water level on the main river needs to be kept at a height such that it automatically feeds through to this side weir and lade. Laxey Valley is well known as a honey pot for midges in the summer; the last thing it needs it works wish will further encourage this phenomenon.

While it is appreciated that the existing private wall on Glen Road is concrete, the proposal to superimpose bare white concrete panels on this and to a greater height will be utterly out of keeping in Laxey’s Conservation Area. The proposal should include stone facing to both sides of the proposed new wall down to respective road and river bed levels. As shown in the applicant’s photographs this section of wall is fully open to view from the amenity area on the opposite side of the river. It is also totally visible from the public footpath on the broogh above it – see attached photograph of view further upstream. As has already been shown these bare faced concrete panels are totally out of keeping in Laxey’s Conservation Area and stain quickly, making them an eyesore – see attached photograph submitted by Riverside House in response to PA20/01385/B.

I therefore object to this proposal as it will have a detrimental effect on the appearance of Laxey’s Conservation Area and will have adverse environmental impacts which have not been properly considered and for which there are no mitigation proposals on the adjacent public amenity area.

2 Glen View, South Cape, Laxey Redacted