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TT tented village plan - Malcolm - 10-04-2013 A London company which operates at more than 50 UK festivals a year, including Glastonbury, hopes to set up camp in the island for TT Race Week. Hotel Bell Tent wants to rent Ballakermeen High School’s playing field and some of its facilities to provide 60 canvas bell tents for TT visitors. It has applied to government planners (13/00367/C) for the temporary change of use of the Douglas school’s playing field for one week, May 30 to June 7. In the application Tobyn Cleeves, of Hotel Bell Tent, explained: ‘We would like to rent the playing field and some facilities from the school during the TT to provide temporary accommodation with our canvas bell tents. ‘As it’s accommodation and not hospitality, there would be low noise impact and we will be policing out of hours noise. The school is delivering letters to the immediate houses.’ The plan is for campers to use the on-site parking, school canteen – serving hot and cold food – and the toilet and shower facilities. The company would provide 24 hour CCTV coverage and manned security. And campers would be provided with wristbands for extra security. Mr Cleeves said: ‘At Hotel Bell Tent we are aware of the lateness of this application, but we have been informed by many parties on the island that there is a much needed demand for accommodation during TT week.’ He added: ‘We are expecting to bring 60 tents over for 2013 with people booking for two different blocks, May 30 to June 3, and June 3 to June 7. ‘Including crew, security and guests we would expect 300 people on site at a time.’ All the tents would be ‘decked out with luxury inflatable mattresses, jute doormats for boots and shoes, block colour Indian rugs as flooring, low level hand-painted bedside tables and beautiful tea light candle chandeliers’. In his submission, Mr Cleeves said: ‘We have over five years’ experience in providing event accommodation for sporting events, festivals and private parties and we endeavour to continue our professional work at the Isle of Man TT with a swift set up and take down of the camp, efficient cleaning of the site and attentive and considerate working relationship with all parties involved.’ Meanwhile, residents have until April 26 to register for the TT Homestay scheme. So far, just over 1,500 bed spaces have been made available – but the Department of Economic Development expects this figure to increase significantly over the coming weeks as inspections on accommodation are carried out. Homestay can be offered during TT for any number of nights between May 25 and June 9. All homestay accommodation is inspected by Isle of Man Tourism to ensure it meets the required quality standard as detailed in the Homestay Hosts’ information pack at http://www.visitisleofman.com To register for the Homestay scheme call 686802 or email homestay(at)gov.im In 2012, the department registered just under 800 properties. Last month, an appeal against the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure’s approved plan for a temporary camping area inside the National Sports Centre track was withdrawn. The Isle of Man Athletics Association had called on athletes and residents to oppose the plan, saying the development would ‘definitely adversely affect training in the build-up to the Island Games’. .