TENANTS of local government houses in Ballasalla want the same quality treatment from the Department of Local Government as that received by other public sector estates.

That's the view of Malew and Santon MHK Graham Cregeen.

The DLGE has admitted to being devastated after its proposals for a £40 million estate in the village, including new public sector homes, were rejected last week.

Mr Cregeen said: 'The DLGE has done very good developments at Pulrose and Janet's Corner. Why should Ballasalla be treated any different to those areas?

He criticised the DLGE for not listening to residents' comments.

'I do not think they really took into account people's opinions. They did consultation but said we are going to do it anyway. Hopefully people will listen now.'

The proposal involved a 257-property development, including 90 higher priced and 102 first-time buyer houses, on land at Crossag Farm. The current public sector houses at Clagh Vane, built in the 1940s, would have been demolished and rebuilt elsewhere on the estate.

The proposal was rejected by independent inspector John Turner whose recommendation to refuse the plans was supported by the Council of Ministers.

Mr Cregeen said the piecemeal nature of the scheme caused concern. 'When they showed the plans at Ballasalla Village Hall in 2006, they showed them with the bypass, school and houses — that was the perception of the future,' said Mr Cregeen.

But there was concern when the application was submitted.

He said: 'From the outset there was a lot of concern when people realised there was no guarantee of a school and a bypass in the development.

'One of the inspector's recommendations was the school and bypass and new property should be seen as one. I'm pleased he said that, it has been a concern of mine.'

Mr Cregeen said he intended to contact the DLGE shortly 'so we can plan what to do with the Clagh Vane houses now'.

He added: 'Very little maintenance has been done on those properties for 15 years or so — we really do have to get something done for the people.'

Although throwing the plans out meant a delay in providing badly-needed housing, he said: 'This is the right decision in the long run, we can have an enhancement to the village.'

He added it gave the DLGE, Department of Transport and Department of Education enough time to co-operate on a complete plan.