At a meeting of the Executive Committee of Douglas Borough Council held on Friday May 29 it was resolved to temporarily relax pavement café guidelines in a move to support the re-emergence of the hospitality sector as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Council Leader Councillor David Christian MBE JP said: ‘The survival of the hospitality sector is vital to the local economy. Café and restaurant owners have been showing great ingenuity in how they can provide food and drink while complying with current health and safety protocols. The Council has therefore agreed to a temporary relaxation of pavement café guidelines in a bid to re-energise café culture in the town centre and support businesses struggling to return to a “new normal”.’

Councillor Christian added: ‘The Council is aware that some businesses on Douglas Promenade are calling for a pedestrianised zone. This a matter for the Department of Infrastructure to determine. I would, however, expect my fellow Councillors and all other interested parties to be as supportive as possible in any consultation process to enable these businesses to get up and running and trading again in these difficult times.’