Drivers warned to move cars from former car park

The owners of cars parked on a former bus station site which used to have designated parking spaces have been told they have until Sunday to move them - after the land was sold to a developer.

Plans for a major development on the area on Lord Street, in Douglas, were resubmitted in May.

Although the site has not operated as a paid car park for several years, after being sold to Lord Street Development SPV Limited, vehicles are regularly left in the spaces.

The firm said "unauthorised vehicles" must be removed by 18:00 BST on Sunday ahead of "locked barriers" being installed.

The site will be closed to the public from Sunday evening in line with the long-standing plans to regenerate the site and in accordance with an agreement with the Department of Infrastructure, it said.

The scheme includes a multiplex cinema, retail units and apartments, as well space for an indoor bus passenger waiting area and driver facilities.

Although plans for the 14-storey complex were withdrawn by Wyyttavin following a family bereavement, Lord Street has since resubmitted them.

The project had been approved in principle for support from the government's Island Infrastructure Scheme, which was set up to encourage the development of disused urban sites.

However, the firm previously confirmed a fresh application for support would need to be made.

The firm said the team was "hopeful that construction work will commence before the end of this year".

A spokesman said "huge efforts" had gone towards "bringing this strategically located but underutilised site into active use that benefits Douglas and the wider island".

"We are now entering the final stages of the planning process and remain optimistic that the town will soon benefit from a comprehensive regeneration scheme," he added.

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