New visitor hub at Laxey Wheel gets approval
Plans to demolish the existing entrance kiosk and replace it with a modern visitor hub at a Victorian water wheel have been approved.
The larger visitor hub at the Laxey Wheel is set to be used to exhibit the history of the site and provide a sheltered space for groups of visitors.
Planning committee member Peter Whiteway said the new hub would be "functional" and although it "could be prettier" it would serve the purpose needed.
In its application, Manx National Heritage argued the current facility, which was designed for one person rather than the current three-person team, was "totally inadequate" and offered "cramped and cold" conditions.
The existing kiosk also "offers a very poor visitor experience" as there was "no internal space" to provide information or for a retail area, rendering it "not fit for purpose".
Built in 1854, the 72ft (22m) diameter wheel is the largest working waterwheel of its kind in the world.
Known as the Lady Isabella, the Victorian wheel was originally used in mining.
Recommending the plans for approval, the planning officer's report said the proposal would not impact the appearance of the conservation area, and a modern development could provide a "good distinction between new and old".
In his submission to the committee, clerk of Garff Commissioners Martin Royle said some members of the local authority, which had objected to the proposals, had had difficulty with the design of the structure.
But he said the development could lead to more people discovering the landmark.
Last year, Manx National Heritage withdrew proposals for a visitor centre at the sire after backlash over its appearance.
Key changes under the revised scheme were the colour and location of the building.
Committee member Helen Hughes said she was "unsure about the design" although she understood staff needed more space.
She said while it was an "improvement" on the original proposal it still looked like a portable cabin, but fellow committee member Adele Bettridge noted that there were no toilets within the facility.
The committee was told Manx National Heritage said the lifespan of the facility would be 15 to 20 years.
The plans were approved with six member in favour and one against.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Views sought on Laxey Wheel visitor hub plans
New Laxey Wheel plans to be shared after backlash
Plans for new entrance hub at Laxey Wheel pulled
Commissioners object to Laxey Wheel entrance plans
Historian slams plans for new Laxey Wheel entrance
Plans for new visitor entrance at Laxey Wheel
Great Laxey Wheel turns again after two years
Planninc Committee Agenda
Planning Application
Manx National Heritage
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Cosmopolitan
18 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Titan: The OceanGate disaster – the full list of victims in the submersible implosion
A new Netflix documentary will explore the OceanGate submersible disaster of 2023, which left five people dead. The Titan submersible was heading down to the wreckage of the Titanic on 18 June. It was an exclusive trip reserved for only the very richest of society, with each seat on the submersible costing $250,000. However, as the Titan approached the wreckage, it stopped communicating and seemingly vanished into thin air. A four-day search and rescue mission took place in the Atlantic Ocean, before debris from the Titan was found nearly 4000m under the sea. It was thought that the Titan imploded, with the submersible's carbon fibres being unable to withstand the extreme pressure of the deep sea. Titan: The OceanGate Disaster will explore how businessman Stockton Rush and his deep-rooted desire to make extreme tourism a reality cost him, and four others, their lives. Here is the full list on who was on the Titan submersible at the time of the disaster. The 61-year-old businessman who co-founded and was CEO of OceanGate, a deep-sea exploration company. Rush had faced criticism from others in the field, and his own employees about the safety of the Titan submersible. Most submersibles are made of titanium or steel – however, the hull of the Titan was made of filament-wound carbon fibre, This made the vessel lighter, and less costly, but carbon fibre was more unpredictable. The Titan was also not 'classed' by an external body or third party. Despite warnings, Rush was confident in his contraption, which made 13 successful trips to the Titanic wreckage before the ill-fated excursion in 2023. A former employee, who was not named, told the BBC: 'Rush was very level-headed, he knew what needed to be done," he said. "He went on every sub dive, he was the pilot for every single one, and that's because he trusted the safety of the sub.' The 77-year-old French sea explorer and Titanic expert had a deep love and interest in the 1912 Titanic shipwreck, to the extent he was nicknamed 'Mr. Titanic' by loved ones. Before his death, he was the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, the company that owns the salvage rights to the storied shipwreck, and the author of the book In the Depths of the Titanic. He had previously made 35 dives towards the wreckage, and was once a decorated commander in chief in the French navy. Nargeolet was reportedly aware that the Titan was a somewhat ramshackled operation. Friends told Vanity Fair that they 'all tried to stop him' from taking part in excursions on the vessel. Somewhat nobly, he reportedly told loved ones: 'Maybe it's better if I'm out there, I can help them from doing something stupid or people getting hurt.' The 58-year-old British adventurer and businessman had a life filled with opportunity and extremes; he previously earned a pilot's license while he was studying for a degree in Cambridge, and launched the first regular business jet service to the Antarctic with his company Action Aviation. Due to his line of work, Harding regularly visited the South Pole. He accompanied Buzz Aldrin in 2016 when the former astronaut became the oldest person to reach the South Pole, age 86. A lifelong aviation buff, in 2019 Harding was one of a team of aviators that took the Guinness World Record for a circumnavigation of the Earth via the North and South Poles in a Gulfstream G650ER in 46 hours and 40 minutes. Two years later, Harding turned his attention to the deep blue seas; working alongside retired naval officer Victor Vescovo as he dived to the deepest point of the Mariana Trench – a staggering 36,000ft deep. This excursion landed him a second Guinness World Record for greatest distance covered at full ocean depth and greatest time spent at full ocean depth. Harding is survived by his wife, Linda, his two sons and two stepchildren. The family lived in Dubai. The 48-year-old British Pakistani businessman worked as a vice-chairman of the Engro Corporation and as a director of the Dawood Hercules Corporation, where he dealt with mergers and acquisitions. He gave significant amounts to charity; he was a trustee of his family's Dawood Foundation, which focused on education. Dawood also coordinated efforts to fight Covid-19 in Pakistan, as well as providing mental health support. He had a lifelong interest in the Titanic and had bought the trip on the Titan for him and his wife, Christine. The trip was then delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic – Christine then opted to give her ticket to her son, Suleman. Initially, the 19-year-old university student was not due to go on the trip. When his father, Shahzada, bought the tickets, he intended for just him and his wife to go, as Dawood was too young (the minimum age requirement for the submersible was 18.) However, with the trip being delayed due to the pandemic, and her son really wanting to go, Christine gave up her seat. Dawood was reportedly 'really excited' to be heading down to the wreckage. Per the BBC, Christine revealed her son had taken a Rubik's Cube with him because he wanted to break a world record. Suleman reportedly carried the toy everywhere and wanted to solve the puzzle below the remains of the Titanic to set a world record. Speaking of the loss, Christine said: 'We all thought 'they are just going to come up' so that shock was delayed by about 10 hours or so. There was a time … when they were supposed to be up on the surface again and when that time passed, the real shock, not shock but the worry and the not so good feelings started.' Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims following this tragic event. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New bishop installed at cathedral in Manx capital
A new Catholic bishop has been officially installed in his post in Douglas. John Sherrington was named as Archbishop of Liverpool by the late Pope Francis in early April. The archdiocese includes the Isle of Man. He assumed his new role at a ceremony at the Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, which was attended by dignitaries including MHKs and local leaders of other churches. Archbishop Sherrington's installation at his "co-cathedral" - Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, 80 miles (129km) away across the Irish Sea - took place on 27 May. As is tradition, the service in the Manx capital began with the archbishop knocking on the closed cathedral doors before being invited in by the Dean, Monsignor John Devine. Guests included the island's Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan and leaders of other Christian denominations. During the service, the letter issued by the late Pope in early April, confirming Archbishop Sherrington's appointment, was read aloud to the congregation. The bishop was then installed in a special chair in the cathedral, which features his coat of arms alongside that representing the co-cathedral. The proceedings also included the hymn This Little Light of Mine, performed by the children of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, and the island's national anthem. During his homily, Archbishop Sherrington said the ceremony marked a "day of great joy". Archbishop Sherrington moved from the Diocese of Westminster to succeed the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, who was been in the post since May 2014. Archbishop McMahon submitted his resignation to the late pontiff last year, having reached the usual retirement age for bishops of 75. Bishop Sherrington was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987. He was also ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta in 2011. In addition to the Isle of Man, the archdiocese covers Merseyside as well as parts of Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and an area of Lancashire south-west of the River Ribble. The elevation of the Manx cathedral in November 2023 followed Douglas being awarded city status as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. New Archbishop of Liverpool appointed by Pope Ceremony marks Manx church's new cathedral status Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Douglas church granted cathedral status by Pope Douglas Jubilee city status 'a huge honour' Archdiocese of Liverpool The Roman Catholic church on the Isle of Man
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New bishop installed at cathedral in Manx capital
A new Catholic bishop has been officially installed in his post in Douglas. John Sherrington was named as Archbishop of Liverpool by the late Pope Francis in early April. The archdiocese includes the Isle of Man. He assumed his new role at a ceremony at the Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, which was attended by dignitaries including MHKs and local leaders of other churches. Archbishop Sherrington's installation at his "co-cathedral" - Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, 80 miles (129km) away across the Irish Sea - took place on 27 May. As is tradition, the service in the Manx capital began with the archbishop knocking on the closed cathedral doors before being invited in by the Dean, Monsignor John Devine. Guests included the island's Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan and leaders of other Christian denominations. During the service, the letter issued by the late Pope in early April, confirming Archbishop Sherrington's appointment, was read aloud to the congregation. The bishop was then installed in a special chair in the cathedral, which features his coat of arms alongside that representing the co-cathedral. The proceedings also included the hymn This Little Light of Mine, performed by the children of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, and the island's national anthem. During his homily, Archbishop Sherrington said the ceremony marked a "day of great joy". Archbishop Sherrington moved from the Diocese of Westminster to succeed the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, who was been in the post since May 2014. Archbishop McMahon submitted his resignation to the late pontiff last year, having reached the usual retirement age for bishops of 75. Bishop Sherrington was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987. He was also ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta in 2011. In addition to the Isle of Man, the archdiocese covers Merseyside as well as parts of Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and an area of Lancashire south-west of the River Ribble. The elevation of the Manx cathedral in November 2023 followed Douglas being awarded city status as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. New Archbishop of Liverpool appointed by Pope Ceremony marks Manx church's new cathedral status Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Cathedral status service to feature Manx elements Douglas church granted cathedral status by Pope Douglas Jubilee city status 'a huge honour' Archdiocese of Liverpool The Roman Catholic church on the Isle of Man