‘It Looks Like a Plastic Portacabin’

Historian Charles Guard has hit out at plans by Manx National Heritage to replace the entrance to the Great Laxey Wheel visitor centre.

MNH has submitted plans to replace the existing kiosk with a ‘welcome hub’.

In a video addressing the plans, Charles says it ‘looks like a plastic portacabin’ and later shows how such a structure would look at Laxey Tram Station, Government House and Milntown.

He is not opposed to the principle of the plans, saying: ‘Certainly the current kiosk doesn’t have any room for retail offerings for toilets, or a place for the staff to change and certainly a much bigger one is needed.’

‘Not a grand multimillion pound affair, just something more appropriate and in keeping than a blue fake mobile classroom. Something may be faced with Manx stone and with some toilets in it?’

Comparing it to other recent gov spendings, Charles says that the island can afford to improve the entrance with a more befitting set up.

He added: ‘Look, after all the money that’s been spent on restoring this great wheel let’s not have another half completed job like the horse trams. Let’s just get this right.’

You can see this and more of Charles Guard’s videos at the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/charlesguardvideos

https://www.youtube.com/@charlesguardvideos