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Since purchasing the property in November 2009 I have had the opportunity to discuss the existing buildings on the site and our proposals with a number of the neighbours who live on the Patrick Road and parents at our daughter's school, St Johns, who pass along the Patrick Road a number of times a day on the school run and are therefore very familiar with the premises.
Most people are is very supportive of our proposal to move the dwelling. Many have commented that they would not want to live in the current house because of its damp position shaded by the broogh and the risk of flooding and/or landslide. They have stated that they have always thought it would be more sensible to move the dwelling to the top of the broogh particularly given the position of the other homes along the road which are at that distance or even further back from the road thus affording more light into the home.
I have found that whilst there is some affection for the buildings as a familiar landmark on the Patrick Road the main reason for the affection appears not the building itself but the agricultural undertaking carried out on the land. In particular, people have commented on their memories of seeing cows being milked or the farrier shoeing horses outside the barn and their desire to see the farm put back to agricultural use as soon as possible to enhance the rural feel of the area. Opinion has been split as to the future of the existing house. A significant number of people see it as an eyesore on what is otherwise a pretty road with its asbestos roof and dilapidated outbuildings suggesting that it should be demolished as soon as possible. Others have suggested various non residential uses for the dwelling in order for it to be retained in some form without major alteration to the roadside view in order to maintain what is a familiar sight. It is has been commented that any modernisation or rebuilding of the existing building would have a great impact because of the proximity of the road. Many have said that they would like to see at least the attached stone barn retained in order to maintain the rural feel.
I have taken the opportunity of showing a number of people the rear of the dwelling, a view that many who have affection for the front view have never seen. It is interesting that their reaction is one of amazement and horror that the building has been so unsympathetically extended and looks so ugly. This rear elevation together with the dilapidated state of the outbuildings has to be taken into account when looking at the merits of the existing cluster of buildings. It has been joked that the property could act as an example for the Planning Department of what should not be allowed!
It is worth mentioning that our informal discussions with Manx National Heritage echoed these views. They stated that whilst Close Leece is one of a number of surviving examples of a house with attached barn which they believe was once prevalent throughout the Island it is not the best surviving example particularly given the unsympathetic additions. They have commented that in their opinion whilst they would wish to photograph the existing building the existing dwelling has long since outlived its usefulness as a principal dwelling. They confirmed that their concern is that the remaining farmland should be maintained in its existing field layout and not sold off piecemeal to neighbouring farms to create large fields or garden extensions which would irretrievably alter the landscape and that the rural environment is maintained for future generations. They recognise the
need for a new dwelling meeting modern standards in order to ensure the protection of this piece of the countryside and had no concerns about the proposed repositioning.
Our aim in moving the dwelling to the proposed site is to create an energy efficient family home which will sit well in the existing landscape. We took a particular liking to the land which forms this holding and wish to enhance and maintain it for the benefit of future generations.
The existing site does not lend itself to currently available energy efficient technologies such as solar gain and ground source heat and therefore any new dwelling built on the existing site will be consume unacceptable levels of energy. We propose to supplement this heating by wood burning boilers, fires and cookers utilising wood from the management of existing trees at the upper level of the property which will be supplemented by further planting. The rear of the existing dwelling is of extremely poor quality and the building as a whole is in a state of general disrepair and cannot be made fit for modern living at a reasonable cost.
There has been expressed a concern at the loss of agricultural land and the change of use of the relevant corner of the field in question. I do not believe that this should cause concern when the proposals are taken as a whole. The area lost is only a small corner of one field and an area much larger than that lost will be freed up for use at the roadside with the removal of the Dutch barn and milking parlour areas and the clearing of the land to the west of the existing buildings. In addition, the proposed driveway will afford better access to the upper fields vital for modern farm machinery to enable the land at the top of the broogh to be farmed. We have already increased the available land on the opposite side of the Patrick Road by clearing the long standing debris which had accumulated over a half acre area immediately adjacent to the roadside of right hand field and dealt with the flooded areas by the creation of new ditches. It is our intention to run the property as a farming concern so it is important to us that agricultural land is not lost unnecessarily.
It is our intention to create a family home and become part of the local community. We are therefore anxious to take notice of the comments that we have received from those who are very familiar with the existing dwelling and buildings and will be our neighbours for many years. In the light of the informal comments received we have redesigned the proposed replacement dwelling to be in line with what people have indicated that they would like to see on the site. In addition, as suggested, we have included the retention of the existing barn for agricultural use. The proposals will result in an overall improvement the look of the land from the roadway with the removal of the derelict buildings and the clearing of the overgrown areas and planting of trees.
Tracey Ridgway
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