20 September 2016 · Committee
Junction Improvement Scheme, Mines Road, Foxdale, Isle Of Man, IM4 3ef
The proposal covers two pieces of land in Foxdale village: junction improvement works at the difficult A3/A24 Mines Road junction, and the creation of off-road parking with vehicular access to a garage at Dingle Nook. The site where Bridge House once stood has already been lawfully demolished and replaced with a tarmacadam-finished open space with planters and a Millennium stone feature, which formed the starting point for this assessment. Two earlier applications were material to this decision. The junction itself presents genuine difficulties: a sharp turning angle from the A24 onto the A3, a steep incline, limited road width, and parked vehicles on both Mines Road and the A3 all restrict waiting and manoeuvring space. A mini roundabout was considered but rejected as unsuitable given unequal traffic flows, the gradient's effect on high-sided vehicles, and poor visibility from Mines Road. The Planning Committee, acting under delegated authority, approved the application with two conditions, one of which required measures to address concerns about the use of loose gravel surfacing.
The committee was satisfied that the junction improvements were justified by the well-documented physical difficulties of the A3/A24 Mines Road junction, including its sharp angle, steep gradient, and limited width. The changed circumstances since earlier refusals — particularly the demolition of Bridge House and the prior road improvement condition — provided a fresh basis for approval.
Foxdale Local Plan
The site lies within an area designated on the Foxdale Local Plan as highway
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Condition 2
Upon completion of the junction improvement and within six months of the use thereof, the remaining area to the south east, shown in green hatching on the approved drawing must be terraced and landscaped in accordance with a scheme to be approved by the Department. Such a scheme must enable safe and convenient access and use by the public and provide a visually attractive environment alongside the junction. Reason: in the visual interests of the area. This decision relates to drawing P011A received on 8th August, 2016.
