Public Works Ministry: Astwood Park/Scrambling
The planned scrambling track at Astwood Park takes up “very little space” and will be used for “mini scramblers for the younger kids,” a Ministry of Public Works spokesperson said today [Sept 9].
The park will be used from 4 to 6pm from Monday to Friday on a one year trial basis, and the organizers have agreed to stop the programme at any point during the evening should the area residents express any concerns, the Ministry said.
The environmental group BEST has called the plan“inappropriate”, saying that Astwood Park was purchased by the Government after research in the 1980s showed that Warwick was one of the most densely populated parts of the Island, and needed open space relief.
“We are aware that the conversion is being promoted as a ‘kiddie scrambling track’ as though the smaller bikes will not be as noisy or destructive to the environment through pollution and erosion,” said a statement from BEST Chairman Stuart Hayward.
“It may be billed as such but which department of government is charged to monitor usage; to inspect and deny certain sized engines or wheelsizes or age groups from using the facility?
“It just doesn’t make good sense to put a high-noise and environmentally damaging activity adjacent to a dense residential area. Communities need a rest from noise and bother, particularly evenings and weekends.
Mr Hayward continued: “It doesn’t make good sense to open up a new facility for a noisy and potentially dangerous motorized bikes when one already exists at Southside in a more suitably isolated area.”
According to the Ministry of Public Works:
1. The park is being used for the mini scramblers for the younger kids – not the larger motocross cycles
2. The area MP canvassed the area and approached the Ministry on their behalf and the area residents had no objections to this area being used as a track
3. The park will only be used from 4 to 6 pm/Monday to Friday
4. This will be on a one year trial basis with a view to assess the programme thereafter
5. The organizers have agreed to stop the programme at any point during the evening should the area residents express any concerns
6. The track for the actual programme has been designed by the Department of Parks technical personnel which takes up very little space in the park
7. The Ministry of Public Works is working with the youth in the area to offer a positive outlet.
Update 4.16pm: We asked exactly who the organiser is, and a Public Works Ministry spokesperson said the Department of Parks.
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Articles that link to this one:
- OBA’s Senator Fahy On Astwood Park/Scrambling | Bernews.com | September 11, 2012
- Government Clarification: Astwood Park Proposal | Bernews.com | September 11, 2012
And the organisers are?
NO, NO, and NO again!!! This govt is so dishonest that I do not believe a word they say. Also when would we, the voting public and long suffering tax payers of this small island, have been told about this unless BEST had not “stumbled” upon it by a worried member of the public who saw a backloader and various equipment down at the Park? Would it be like EVERYTHING ELSE WITH THIS GOVT.??? A done deal first and then they tell us, maybe, but long after the fact when it is alreay to late? Another SDO for Astwood Park? Yet another example of this govt. ramming down our throats what they want NOT WHAT WE THE VOTERS WANT. They continue to NOT LISTEN to their voters and what we the people want This govt. continues to hit a new low, day after day after sickening day………..oh call the election PLEEEZE time to get these clowns out.
Signed Margaret Benn
Resident of Warwick, a tax payer and a voter.
Good on you Margaret for signing your name.
Bought time someone stood up.
Karma is real
Who’s equipment is it? I’m guessing the machines are either yellow or blue.
This is not a positive outlet for young children. It’s a dangerous ‘sport’ that should be left to adults who have the right to put themselves into life threatening situations. If anything it should be considered child abuse and banned by the Government not sanctioned by it.
Even presuming this were a positive, safe outlet, it is an incredibly limiting one unless the Government itself is planning to provide the mini scramblers for the children to use. Only a small number of people will benefit from this destruction of park land, to the detriment of many, including tourists which we have few enough as it is.
Why only canvass the immediate neighbourhood when it’s not only the immediate neighbourhood that will suffer the loss of this part of the park? Will it be open only to Warwick youth, or can people expect to see an influx from anywhere on the island?
This strikes me as, again, a decision that has been reached without proper consideration of all the ramifications.
@ Familiar….i don’t know why you would name yourself that because you must be the most UNfamiliar person…Your 1st paragraph makes me wonder where the hell did you get that THEORY???
Now i am against the LOCATION NOT the IDEA…find a suitable area. Secondly whats this about 4-6 Mon-Fri..2 hrs..? Our Youth need a place for All hours…not just motocross either…it MUST be Manned and Organized at least 16hrs/day that could be 2shifts for a couple of Responsible UNEMPLOYED Bermudians…theres much more but im tired now.
I kind of have to agree with familiar. I can completely agree with a relocation to somewhere else but don’t they have 12 year olds and up at the track in southside? So they want to put younger kids on a track with motorized bikes? Ok I know they’re a lower cc, I rode a 25cc scram once and it pulled my 180lbs, put an 8 year old on that and it could result in a life long injury, I have plenty of friends with injuries from the go-kart track that they have had to live with since they were kids, yes I know huge difference. Find a better location and I wouldn’t have an issue, but I most certainly wouldn’t put my kid on one of those death traps. Tires are designed for traction, there is none in the air lol I’d rather have my kid on a street bike, road rash is far better than shattered vertibrae, if bikes were meant to fly they would have wings, but props to the guys that do it, I’ve had far too many of those falling dreams. The other thing is, that’s a 15 min drive there for an ambulance if something does happen. If a child punctures a lung from a bike landing on them, you may not have half an hour to spare. A childs body is only just developing and is very fragile, once they’re of a certain age and body structure I say do your thing. Not everyone sees it like I do and there’s probably some wicked little riders out there, so like you my real issue is the location. PLP take a page from Alquaeda, location, location, location.
Materialism. Seriously, who is it that’s buying mini scramblers for their young children? They’d freaking well better not be the same people complaining that school blazers cost too much.
Kids don’t need cool toys like scramblers. Kids don’t need more stuff. Kids certainly don’t ‘need’ to see the continued subjugation of nature for the latest fad- great example, Government. Kids need their parents, or strong parental figures. Kids need books. Kids need our time. Not this senseless crap.
Nice work, Government. We’re trying to encourage our people to spend less on stupid things and strengthen the family unit- so, does this do the job??
In the words of our youth- EPIC FAIL.
A motorcross track in the middle of Bermudas #1 scenic route for tourists clearly illustrates how little government works together to improve the island as a whole. We are victims of personal agendas and corruption.
hahahaha….its all i can do to keep me from crying . YOU see it I see It…are we halucinating or what?? because seems like they Can’t see it
Who exactly is they? I can tell you the plp sees is clear as day, believe me when I tell you they do know what they’re doing, its just their supporters can’t tell they’re playing dumb.
Need somewhere to train the new drive-by riders. Really, you can’t expect the MOB boys to ride through Parkside to get to the track down at St. Davids can you?
Hahaha, typical response from this arrogant Ministry. Do they ever learn, trying to please every-one all the time for votes? This is NOT a good idea. Point #7 is your justification and only leg to stand on, however this time; is not GOOD enough. This location is not appropriate for such an event; simple (for the minds that are not just that, simple). Astwood Park holds too high a standing on South Shore for Tourism and public events. Why, Oh why would you even entertain such an initiative is beyond me? Quoting time of use and size makes NO difference in this case. Show me the list (numbers only) of people who partitioned for this. The area MP while canvassing found this to be a topic to pursue? Wow, who did he canvass to put this on a list of things he should address?
“The organizers have agreed to stop the programme at any point during the evening should the area residents express any concerns”.
Anyone who believes that needs their head tested.
And how do you qualify to be an “area resident”? If I live a mile away and just want to walk through the park in peace, will they stop the programme for me if I express a concern? Or will they tell me to get stuffed because I don’t qualify as an “area resident”?
Don’t bother, I think we already know the answer.
I’m not sure what about this isn’t going to be disruptive?! When canvassing did the MP actually play neighbours a recording of how loud these bikes are?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4zMF4cHTdo&feature=related
Why not put in a bmx track that is accessible to more kids and promotes physical activity and doesn’t involve massive amounts of noise pollution?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IYF5wq7Mew
The parks belong to ALL of Bermuda, not just the neighbourhoods in which they’re located. When were the rest of us going to be able to weigh in on this? And, surely it’s a change of use, or at least there is some earth work to be done, which for any other project- for ANY other demographic, I might add- would have to go through a rigorous Planning process. No one knew anything about this, save a few. Shame, shame, shame on you, PLP. I don’t give a damn when this would be used, that’s not the point. The point is that this is pristine parkland. I don’t really care how much space it will or won’t take up. This is not right. Process has not been followed, and the greater good of Bermuda has not been considered. Sustainability, my arse. This government cares less about that than it does electioneering for a few votes. What’s wrong with setting aside a small part of Morgan’s Point, or another brown field site for this??? What about encouraging people to take their kids for bicycle rides, walks?
This is just insane. I can’t stomach this nonsense any more. I know how I’m voting, despite the support I’ve given to the PLP in the past. Pack your bags, you idiots.
I call bull###t on the “kiddi” track. The playground on North Shore near Penhurst was suppose to have a kids BMX track and now regularly abused by the larger scrambler bikes (with adults on them)! Call the police – no action happens as they take off before the cops get there.
No, that’s supposed to be a dog park. Didn’t you hear? Because pleasing the canine population is more important than spending that money on something like- I dunno- helping families who can’t afford school supplies, feeding elderly folk, or any number of other things.
Some sort of $hit this. Pandering and electioneering ALL ON OUR DIME!!!!!!!!!
Judging by Island stats results, I can only see 50 – 100 people who actually race Motocross. Half of which may be kids. Less than 1% of the population of Bermuda one can safely assume actually take part in scrambling. So you are ruining a good park/tourist attraction, with a “small” track which only satisfies less than 1% of the population.
That does not even take into account other issues of sustainability and other things. If this track is driven on for 1 year, and they decide to stop the activity afterwards, trees will not automatically regrow in a day, neither will grass…the impact will last longer than a year. This just seems like a poorly thought out ‘plan’ in which the organizers have used zero common sense. It is not just area residents that are impacted, it is the entire population, the users of the park, the wildlife of the park itself, etc, etc. Ugly low cost housing, and a motocross track, among other things; people are doing their best to ruin the South Shore, and the island in general.
What is wrong with this govt? Why not let these small motocross bikes (that they proclaim) use the BMX track located in Devonshire? They have no clue. The track isn’t being used at present. Why would they take a PRISTINE piece of land on the South Shore and ruin it. What about the residents in the area have they any input on this plan? I don’t live in the area but I certainly object as a taxpayer.
I’m an avid fan of motocross and street bike racing and have nothing against either of the associations on the island. These types of activities belong in contained areas due to noise, dirt and pollution.
LEAVE ASTWOOD PARK AS THE BEAUTY THAT IT IS.
so kids will be using the track between 4-6 mon-friday when they should be doing homework and many parents will be at work or coming home from work… but they cant use it on the weekend when they are out of school?
Either this is another poorly thought plan hidden from the public and designed to benifit a select few OR Somebody is not telling all the truth.
Who are the organizers? Are the “organizers” paying for this project? If it isnt a government idea, shouldn’t there at the very least be a planning process?
Bermuda, once again land deals are being done at the expense of the public and without thought and input from those of us that own these spaces “the people of Bermuda” and it’s “legal tax paying residents”. Another Tuckers Point, Morgans Point, Whites Island deal!!!! Is it not enough that the government DESTROYED a stretch of land on Southshore already with UGLY and EMPTY condos just around the corner from Astwood Park?????
Ask yourselves????? Whats will pop up in my back yard without me knowing?
Who are the “organoizers”???? Do we not have the right to know who is in charge of this one either?
The PLP and their voters are all about short term satisfaction with a complete disregard for the future of this country. Do the voters not realize that the leaders of their government actually want this country to go the way of Antigua etc; that being the easiest route to their self enrichment.
its so funny that Warwick cannot be used for anything, but areas like Pembroke or Devonshire can have everything thrown their way.
Obviously you haven’t seen Ewartville or the new humongus gas station. Right there on beach front property overlooking the south shore in Warwick.
Reminds me of the song (They paved paradise and put up a parking lot) . What a sick bunch! Voted for Freddy and Lois in the 80′s and PLP ever since. Gonna be hard this time. Craziness abounds.
How about a BMX and skateboard park instead? No polluting exhaust or noise pollution; lots more fun for kids!
5. The organizers have agreed to stop the programme at any point during the evening should the area residents express any concerns
LIES, LIES, LIES!! They said the new monstrosity of a gas station would be quiet. LIES, LIES, LIES!! The PA system at the gas station is like having someone right in your living room, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.It’s that loud. The kitchen extractor fan faces the roadway running 24/7, and to top it all off, the lights are on all night long, it looks like the Las Vegas strip. Horns blowing , tyres blowing up, stereos going all day and half the night. It’s far worse that the old station.
Never ever believe anything, anyone even remotely associated with this government says, the are nothing but liars. They are beyond spin, it’s outright LIES!
It seems as though this current government believe that this is their island and they will do what they like with it and to hell with the future.
They don’t care about the future of this beautiful country and are ripping it to shreds piece by piece. They are an environmental disgrace. They cut back on recycling collection and are now doing this to Astwood Park. Not to mention the unsightly, unoccupied and unaffordable affordable units less than half a mile away.
I live within 500 yards of the place and I haven’t been asked my views either face to face or by any kind of survey.
Lets look at point 5 in their statement as it appears that residents already have concerns so will they stop it or just carry on doing what they like?
Will this so called ‘mini kiddy track’ be monitored daily? If not this will end up for big kids scrambling bikes as they try to do there now.
Not a good idea at all. Someone will have to be there 24/7 if not it will be misused.
I have just come back from the grocery store – and as I live in Warwick i returned on South Shore and I could not help but think this govt. HAS ALREADY RAPED, YES RAPED, Warwick South Shore with the ill thought and totally stupid Alantic condos. Now they want to RAPE, YES RAPE, AGAIN – this time Astwood Park. I guess one rape is not enough FOR THIS GOVT. This govt. that gives no thought to the well being of the Bermudian people. What about “saving valuable land space for our future” does this govt. NOT understand.????
Signed Margaret Benn
Warwick Resident, a Bermuda Voter and a Bermuda tax payer
Rapists rarely stop at one rape.
Which parent is going to have time from 4-6 on a weekday to go to the track with their kids? Hellloooo parents have to work!!!! This was NOT planned well at all. Who can afford mini scramblers, the gear and again who is going to be able to go at these times?????? This bunch have no flippin clue what’s really needed for this Island.
Typical PLP modus operandi.
Sneek something through and then let the public know after the fact,a dictatorship.
Totally opposite of Swiss democracy in which the “the Swiss people”actually vote before the government can pass anything.
We the public are not idiots. They said that it will be in use certain hours, you know as well as I do that it will be used almost around the clock in no time and Astwood Park and Cove will never be the same.
It will become a dust bowl from being torn up by the knobby tires,there will be noise,trash and groups of people hanging out.
Why are they destroying the Bermuda product, the beauty of this island?
So if they are changing it from open space to a scrambling track, how come there is no planning process?
Isn’t that what the whole process is for?
Why cant the Minister call a press conference and answer the tough questions instead of hiding behind a spokesperson?
If this plan was dealt with in the proper manner,he would surround himself with area residents along with other useless Ministers and announce it to the world. After all, he has never met a camera and microphone that he didn’t like.
This plan reeks of secrecy and deal making. By the way, who/where are the faceless organizers?
After reading all the comments, the sad thing is, its the plp voter base that enables them to do these things, it happens time and time again. The people of this island will not learn. This governemnt is hellbent on revenge and they fuel their voter base with this. The funny thing is, once you have got your revenge then what? What do you believe you will get from it? Satisfsction? I doubt it. Equal treatment? Nope. Do you think people will look at you differently? Definitely. The people sitting on the hill will have theirs, but that majority that voted for them will still be here stuck in a urban crumbling wasteland with nothing to offer unless they hold a different passport. I have my British but that’s my worst case plan, I don’t ever want to leave our island, but if Bermuda isn’t Bermuda anymore, its not home.
Just another reason why me and many of my friends will not be voting PLP this year, unlike previous years. This just goes to show the ministers ignorance and vote buying….This is going to result in MORE ASBO YOUTH on the island. In my opinion kids shouldn’t be riding any bike with an engine and parents who let their children do this are IRRESPONSIBLE. A child could seriously injure their-self not to mention the peer pressure it will cause resulting in parents having to buy their child a dirt bike. This is a really STUPID idea, all we are going to see now at Astwood is DEAD CATS, because this government is so IGNORANT it doesn’t even realise that there are about 50 cats that live and get fed there. HOWEVER, I would not oppose this as much if the government would RECONSIDER and put this in a more appropriate location going in with a private investor who can monitor and rent dirt bikes, such as Morgans point or the newly acquired southlands area.
Same here…NO PLP vote this time.
Reaction here and in the RG over the past couple of days has been unambigous, and almost unanimous in its opposition to the mini-scrambler idea. It is also clear that while the MP believes that canvassing has been done, many residents of the area indicate they were not included in this effort.
And, as usual, there were no public hearings or announcements. No information about who the “organization” is that will run this; no indication that they are paying for use of the land (or what they will charge users); no indication of their qualifications. The car wash in Hamilton, White’s Island, PHC, and on and on and on.
Given the clear reactions from residents, neighbors and other citizens, will Government stop, conduct hearings and otherwise give people a chance to be heard before putting backhoe to earth?
If not, remember Government’s behaviour in this matter in a few months, when you are voting.
You get the Government you deserve.
EW
What incredibly bad judgement not to forget taste too: The message is loud and clear; to hell with a scenic tourist park, to hell with all those classic wedding shots taken there, real weddings too; to hell with any one who lives nearby or wants a bit of piece and quiet in a pristine spot. In fact, to hell with Bermuda if it suits the PLP.
The shell gas station was built on land that belonged to the owners not bermuda government, which means thsy can do as they like with it. No out cry when the Docks are moved to North Shore, guess its poor people there.
The people of Warwick strongly opposed the building of the monolithic shell gas station closer to the residential area. The Planning Department rejected the idea. It was built anyway.
no worries mate ,…you will not live long enough to see that…
What is it with the PLP? Do they go out of their way to pull the biggest d$ck moves they can dream up or does it come naturally?
You will not get my vote this time. We have gone from the envy of the world to the laughing stock of the world. I now do agree with Mr Richardson, the situation we are in has “Made In Bermuda” all over it. I am glad lots of us have finally woke up.
plp selling out Bermuda since 1998….Bernews, is that better wording?
Astwood Park !!! Are you kidding me ? This is as good a time as any for PLP candidate Pasture Bean to step in and offer up Whites Island , for free of course . Who is the scrambled brain MP who thinks this craps’ a good idea ?
Please NO!!!!!!’. Rethink this carefully. This is not the spot or neighborhood!
MP Mountbatten, my thoughts exactly. This one has the odor of Whites Island all over it. Which PLP party hack is lying in the shadows looking to make some money off of public land? Another one of those 21 year less a day freebees? Go find some private land, go through the planning process, if you can get it passed the objections, then have your track.
Weekday operation from 4-6, sure that makes perfect sense. Keep them dumb worrying about how fast they can race around at a time when they should be home doing homework.
Build a skatepark somewhere. Next to no maintenance, appeals to many, good excerise, relatively quiet. Skateparks for the young are seen all over the place elsewhere. Dirt tracks, very few.
Maybe only those with head injuries will be voting for them in future, so their trying to increase their vote base?
Hahaha!!! AAAaaaannnd!!!
The people have spoken…I have read the RG and Bernews and its undeniable!!!
Keep a close eye folks…Lets see how they respond to this.
If the premier was smart, she would personally address this issue…I count atleast 5 people who say them and their friends wont vote PLP…How important is one vote to the gov….? guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
I seem to remember seeing a politician wearing a shirt that said “blind to you haters”. Rumor has it he’s about to show his face again at a constituency near you. If the plp get re-elected, THIS ISLAND IS DONE. Their plan is set in stone…unless someone brings us a hero…
All you people are stupid!! Why complain if they are trying to create things for young people to do but yet you still complain because we are sitting on the street doing nothing!! You people are backwards for real.. Stop being selfish and thinking about yourself and think about the youth and give the streets somting that will occupy our time!!
Let’s put this in very simple terms so that you understand.
No beautiful Bermuda, no tourist which means no jobs,which in turn leads to NO MONEY in your pocket to buy those fancy sneakers!!
That was much too complex for the YBs of Bermuda to understand.
At the age group they are targeting, if these kids are in the street with nothing to do their parents should be locked up for negligence and the children handed over to social services. How many kids will really make use of this to justify destroying more of our open land and history? You hear about people struggling to put food on their table but they can afford a $2000 scram for their kid to ride instead of doing homework? There’s nothing to do? No correction, you don’t want to do anything that there is for you to do. Just as you say people complain about giving the youth something to do, you are doing the exact same thing, complaining there is nothing to do when there is. This youth track will do nothing to sort out any of the antisocial behavior, get real. I could give you a LIST of better ideas and locations but guess what, I don’t make 6 figures a year to destroy an island. Is it really as simple as a good idea or bad idea to you? Doesn’t sound like much of a thought process behind that. Now you’ll complain I have no solutions, so here’s one. New legislation that every off-road scram has to have a manditory gps tracker, the association can use it to track top speeds, average speeds and so on. The police can use it too, you ride your scram anywhere but on a track, your scram gets impounded and crushed, any scram without a tracker, yup, impounded and crushed. Any tracker tampered with, the last recorded location of the tracker, the occupants of the residence get a nice big fine. This means if you try to disable a tracker outside of someone elses house there’s high chance the police will show up before you get to it. If you do it at your house…well if I did it at mine I’d be sh!tting my teeth out courtesy of mums. Some parents just don’t care, except when it hurts their pocket. It only took me 30 seconds to come up with that, imagine if I was given half a decade to write legislations, can I get paid to be a legislative consultant? Want to take it a step further? No license and insurance? Why allow them the opportunity to re-offend? Impounded and crushed! Look at that I just stopped re-offenders and tackled our traffic congestion problem in one blow. I’m pretty sure people will pay their license and insurance or find another way to travel instead of risking a heavy fine AND having your $30,000 car crushed.
This is just so wrong! I vote no! This should be the most commented on article on Bernews.
this is the point of the huge outcry….there wasnt a vote, there wasn’t any canvassing, this is just a ploy to start there racial motives….ofcourse the whites are totally against this, Astwood was white and practically gave it to the government out of respect. Now they want to call it Ewart Brown Park
It is obvious that the Minister of Enviroment and Minister of Works has no clue of the history nor appreciation for Astwood Park.
This is another election trick. Since the Minister of enviroment is the President of Somerset Bridge Club and they are the custodians of White Hill Field, why dont they use that for the youth to scramble. No, because that is his neighbourhood. Plus they did have Morgans Point to use, why was this not raised than(another part of his neighbourhood). If it is not popular in Sandys why bring it to Warwick? After all he suppose to be a community minded person,and from the Sandys area. We had a warwick resident once as a Minister(Elvin James), and never he mentioned this idea, why because he is from Warwick and knows the history of the park.
Finally between 4-6pm young children should be doing their homework.
Let’s find something constructive for our children to do that shifts from destructive to environment to improving the environment and your children’s lives. Parents, it is up to you to make that happen.
Don’t forget who is still ‘pulling the strings’ of the PLP pupets on the Central Committee. Remember what he said five years ago – which is certainly coming true on a daily basis – “I’ll bring this Island to its knees!” The hopeless ‘guardians of our country’ seem to be focusing on our beautiful, scenic South Shore now… first with the MONSTEROUS, UGLY, TASTELESS, Grand Atlantic Projects… then with the new monster American-style gas station which does not compliment the Bermuda style of architecture … and now with the motorcycle assault on Aswood Park. What’s next?!
We’ll see if this Government is capable of LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE… because if they don’t we will surely get our Country back through the OBA after the next election.
CALL THE ELECTION!! The PLP government are holding back our Island… they need to GET OUT OF THE WAY and let someone else who knows what they are doing manage the country!! Seriously.
They are hell bent on destroying the south shore.
It is the last thing left that can resurrect tourism and it seems like they are purposely bringing Bermuda’s economy to it’s knees.
I want to hear a statement from Wayne. Does this not conflict with his ministry? Probably just the bloggers. He’ll probably just play it safe, its better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it. Fool! This I like a direct kick in your teeth after your stupid statement about bloggerd hurting tourism. The plp is killing tourism and hurtimg the very people it claims to stand for.
In the same neighbourhood. How many people have bought and moved into the Grand Atlantic Warwick condos? Bernews, do you know?
One couple lives there……..
Octavia says:
September 9, 2012 at 6:29 am
This is just so wrong! I vote no! This should be the most commented on article on Bernews.
reply
Liars says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
September 9, 2012 at 11:16 am
this is the point of the huge outcry….there wasnt a vote, there wasn’t any canvassing, this is just a ploy to start there racial motives….ofcourse the whites are totally against this, Astwood was white and practically gave it to the government out of respect. Now they want to call it Ewart Brown Park
They say the Government “Bought it”, ya right. The UBP Government that is…..the same one that gave back most of the open spaces that were available before the destruction of Bermuda began in 1998.
This was a joint effort between Ubp/Astwood Family that ended up with a few dollars exchanged for land that was never paid for….only settled on and worked by the Astwood family for centuries.
To turn it into a park was triumphant.
To turn it into another cheap political trick, is unforgivable, again.
The PLP Government- Demolishing Bermuda since 1998! Haitti will soon look like paridise for you Ignorant Fools that vote these incompotants in. Soon they will build some more palaces. And they will tell you your ecomony is great, like Mugabe did, and Castro did, and Hitler did.
Your arrogance has finally caught up with you Bermuda.
Your ignorance has turned blind eyes that will come back for you.
Your Anti-Social behaviour will destroy you inevitably.
Your purse is no longer worth pursuing.
Your color is grey-not black, not white- grey, with red in it from two or three continents.
You are clearly not what you have been pretending to be, are you?
I live directly across from Astwood Park and was never consulted! Haven’t seen the area politician since the week before he got elected!
There already has been outcry about the idea that the docks might move to North Shore. Believe me,should they follow through on that plan,there will be even more.
This is not about who lives where, so please stop trying to make out that that’s the issue. It is about destroying part of Bermuda’s natural beauty, without due process, without public buy-in, being underhanded, operating without giving good thought to consequences, and I could go on. Besides, as someone has already said, 4-6 pm is when homework should be done. Plus, if parents are at work, who will be supervising these young children? And do you know the price of a dirt bike and protective gear?!? Now, if you want to talk about catering to the well-to-do, there you are!
When my grandson wanted to race sëveral years back, even though his mom and I were both working and his dad would have chipped in, the cost was prohibitive. In this day and age of lost jobs and tightening belts, this scheme doesn’t even make sense.
Sometthing smells very bad here.
Exactly Pastor… The bigger picture here is the way the Government and Minister think they can just ignor the Laws and Regulations that protect our (yes OUR.. as in NOT the Governments) open space and parkland.
In 1986 Bermuda passed the National Parks Act, the sole purpose of this act was to protect our public lands from misuse. The Minister in allowing this track to be built is makeing a mockery of ur laws… (personally I don’t think he even bothered to read it)
For anyone who wishes: http://www.bermudalaws.bm/Laws/Consolidated%20Laws/Bermuda%20National%20Parks%20Act%201986.pdf
The real question is how do we stop this? BEST is a great watchdog, but unless someone is stationed there at all times, I’ll bet they’ll find a way to destroy as much as they can before they are stopped.
I am more than willing to lie down in front of bull-dozers if that’s what it takes, but we are talking here about a systemic problem… that this Government thinks it has the right to do whatever it pleases with no thought or care for the wishes of the people it governs.
I wonder if the Minister of Tourism has been consulted on the proposal to install a scrambler track at Astwood Park?
This is a popular spot for tourists (and locals) to hold weddings and I would suggest that the two activities are not compatible.
Even if some accommodation is made over timing and noise, the track will no doubt attract sponsors’ advertising and other clutter that will ruin the view across the park.
what better way to prepare our youth for the insanity of our roads than to create a mini scrambler track……stupidity
“The area MP canvassed the area and APPROACHED THE MINISTRY ON THEIR BEHALF and the area residents had no objections to this area being used as a track” (caps mine)
Something very fishy about that statement. “Canvassing an area” and “on their behalf” sounds like the area residents requested this project to take place, while “area residents had no objections” sounds like the opposite. Confusing and very fishy when coupled with the numbers of residents who state that they were never asked anything about a scrambling track in their front yard.
so.. how do we stop this? I live in the area was never approached by the Area MP!
How do we stop this disaster!!