Summer town square car ban made permanent
BBCA ban vehicles from a town square during the summer months has been made permanent.
First trialled in 2017, the partial ban of cars in Castletown's Market Square was extended to cover the whole space in 2022 to boost footfall and allow for community events.
It has this week been confirmed the Department of Infrastructure has issued a permanent order for pedestrianisation from 1 March until 30 September each year.
However, a bid to permanently close the square year round to traffic is still being considered by the local authority's current board.
In December Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood said in a letter to Castletown Commissioners that she would ask her department to create the permanent order.
However, at the time she said more engagement needed to take place before a decision could be made on a permanent winter closure of the square to vehicles, a move that has been the subject of criticism.
Castletown Commissioners has said a temporary traffic order would need to be sought for planned events over the festive period.
Clerk Hugo McKenzie said he expected the winter ban would be discussed at Castletown Commissioners' next public meeting on 7 April.
Additional reporting by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
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