No high-rise car park for Dover

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance Dwight Sutherland has dismissed suggestions that there are plans to construct a high-rise car park at Dover, Christ Church.

Responding to a query raised at the Christ Church Speaks meeting, at the Christ Church Foundation School on Wednesday evening, Sutherland said that at no time did the Ministry of Housing articulate or mention that such a facility would be constructed.

However, the minister indicated that several weeks ago at a town hall meeting at Dover, it was mentioned that Government would be acquiring 25 parcels of land at Dover, Bath Village, St Lawrence Main Road and St Lawrence Gap, for development projects.

“At no time at all did we mention building any high-rise car park there. We spoke on three areas; Bath Village, St Lawrence Main Road, and St Lawrence Gap. Actually the acquisition of the parcels of land in St Lawrence Gap was done prior to Cricket World Cup, to make St Lawrence Gap ready to attract those persons who came here from the various territories – tourists, cricketers, whatever. And we built sidewalks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dover resident Richard Terrelonge, told the meeting he had been advised that the proposed parking lot is intended to ease the traffic issues in the busy tourist area of St Lawrence Gap and its environs.

“If you walk on St Lawrence Gap, you will understand that the parking problem is taxis and delivery vehicles and those people are not going to use a parking structure blocks away,” Terrelonge said.

He added: “Another issue is somebody wants to build a marina and take over the swamp which is a wetland that has been protected by a former member of this [ruling Barbados Labour] party, on the international convention that we signed saying that we are not going to mess with those wetlands.”

Member of Parliament for Christ Church South, Ralph Thorne, said during the forum that residents were concerned that plans to construct the car park had been mentioned at the town hall meeting at Dover.

Sutherland, who also lamented that there are also rumors that Government was also looking to acquire the property which houses the St Lawrence Anglican Church, insisted that the place of worship has not been identified in the 25 parcels of land Government intended to acquire.

Prime Minister Mottley also gave the assurance that the land where the St Lawrence Anglican Church is situated would not be acquired under her watch. (AH)