TBOP Seeking Help To Reach 5,000 Signatures
Campaign group Take Back Our Park [TBOP] is calling on the residents of Bermuda to sign a petition against work on a new maintenance yard, and help the petition to reach 5,000 signatures.
“We already have more than 3,600 signatures which is phenomenal and shows people’s strength of feeling about the importance of this area. Government is still supporting it despite this huge number and a recent Supreme Court ruling,” said TBOP spokeswoman Jennifer Flood.
“Last week, local residents succeeded in getting a temporary injunction to stop the work at the site which is intended to be a new Parks’ department headquarters. TBOP says it believes Parks’ staff need a new HQ, but argue that the centre of Botanical Gardens is the wrong place,” TBOP said.
“Under the plans, Government wants to build a mustering point for more than 100 staff, parking for dozens of vehicles, two two-story buildings, a training room, a storage room and a paint shop. TBOP believes it is an increase over what existed before on the site.
“TBOP fears that water trucks will go back and forth to the site where a large water tank has already been erected,” the group added.
Mrs Flood said that in granting the temporary injunction, the Chief Justice had noted that ‘the proposed development is seemingly actively opposed by roughly five percent of the country’s population [more than ten percent of all those who voted in the last election], who have signed a petition.’
“The Chief Justice also said that effectively the public had not had the opportunity to comment on the plan as required by the Bermuda National Parks Act 1986 because it had been advertised as 169 South Road and not the Botanical Gardens,” said Mrs Flood.
As well as launching the petition, the group has written to every MP and Senator, including the MP for the area, Craig Cannonier, who is also the Minister for Works and Engineering, which is responsible for the project.
The petition says that:
- The maintenance yard will provide a thru-way for heavy trucks going from Berry Hill to South Shore Road and vice versa.
- 100-120 Parks staff will be driving to this site on a daily basis to collect and/or drop off heavy trucks, trailers, tractors and equipment creating noise and activity within the Gardens.
- There will be increased rush hour congestion and traffic along South Shore Road and hospital zone
- Heavy trucks, trailers, tractors and equipment will be parked at the site nights, weekends and holidays and will be viewable from within the Botanical Gardens
- The site will be used for repairing and maintaining Park vehicles and equipment therefor causing on noise pollution and an unsightly view for visitors to the Botanical Gardens
- The original Planning application in the paper listed the address for this redevelopment as 169 South Road. No mention was made that it was in Botanical Gardens nor that this site was zoned as Park therefore we feel inadequate notice was given to the public about this project
Mrs Flood added: “We know that this site, which has been derelict for a number of years, had previously been used as a Parks depot.
“We believe that this development is on a much larger scale, and we have not been able to find any evidence that traffic and environmental impact studies were done. Government missed an opportunity to find an alternative site.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
I hope these same people sign the petition “Take back our Island”
They already did . Back in Dec of 2012 when they ticked those little boxes on a thing called a ballot paper .
And the aftermath speaks for itself in this comedy sitcom with leading star, you guessed it, SPONGEBOB.
And the role of the dumb*** downstairs neighbour……onion juice
I’m not signing anything you would sign. So stick your petition where the Sun don’t shine.
FLMFAO.
You are so full of yourself , you know what is coming , I laugh in your face , BWAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA.
why who stole it,??
I signed this at the KPMG kid races a few months back.
The lady with the petition failed to notify the people she approached, that on the site there was previously a works depot facility.
She made it seem as if half the gardens were going to be consumed by this ‘brand new site’. I was appalled at the time.
If I would’ve been properly informed as to this was a previous brownfield site and that no other part of the gardens would be consumed by this development I would not have penned my signature to her document. Neither would’ve my family members which were also at the races that day.
What was there before pales into insignificance compared to what is being planned. Before it was not a mustering point for 100 staff, there was no water tank, there were no motor paint workshops, there was no heavy traffic etc etc…
This really is an intensification of the what was going on…
so should they move it next to your house then?
Shouldn’t go beside anybody’s house that’s why they have industrially zoned areas.
Not really, you just could see the old site because it was hidden from view, the ultimate plan to do again
@ Mislead, that’s how many people feel after they voted these Dreamers in.
You realize this plan was started under your PLP dreamers right
@Build a Better Bermuda;while I am not for this plan on the grand scale of it; I am however aware of where we stand economically and I have to query; than where, with what money, and what do we do with this mess?
The same hypocrites are on here drumming up their BS on EVERYTHING that has fallen into the current governments lap. As I have stated MANY times; I have NO political Party; but outright lies and misinformation for political gains is just the lowest form of politics.
But when you have a quota to maintain; carry on.
SMH
Common sense dictates that a maintenance yard doesn’t belong in our most important park
There was previously a works depot there for decades. Everyone seems to have forgotten that. Suddenly.
The old depot (former Ag station) is gone. Now Government is spending millions to but a much larger NEW one back into the Botanical Gardens without considering any other locations. How idiotic is that?
Yea right! you sound like you work for Parks if you ask me. Why should you lot be allowed to do what you want to one of our parks anyway? That tank is a joke and needs to go if you ask me
Didn’t you see that large water tower when you were there? And that was OK to you? I highly doubt it.
Mmmmm? Are you a Parks employee by chance??
So you just took what she said and swallowed it hook, line and sink.
Hope you are setting a better example for any “kids” you may have had at the races.
If parks spent as much time actually taking care of the shambles that is our Botanical Gardens as they do doing stupid things like this, then maybe it would look half decent.
SHM
The OBA and the government can do whatever they want – drive it down their throats boys. They will still vot you back in.
lol, OBA. Give it a break; it’s getting old. Stay on topic here.
Yeah, well it was started under the PLP. And there’s been a works depot there for decades.
Wouldn’t something like this make infinitely more sense at the Quarry or Marsh folly or somewhere industrial? I mean really, pretty basic stuff
Looks like a lot of parks workers are on here defended their tuff. Time to put the yard somewhere else and while they’re at it, outsource the whole thing
Outsources Parks. Not only would we save millions annually, we wouldnt need to built this at all and finally our parks might start looking god again. T
the only people on the island that support this hairbrain scheme are Parks. How many’s that? 200-300 and the other thousands think this is a non starter. So whats the Minister talking about, its best for Bermuda…..right?
Same poop. Different day.
Ignore the tower and enjoy your walk.
Shalom.
To all you whom really don’t have a clue the new owners whom purchased the place got took hook line and sinker fact ! The depot had been there for years and if any of you environmental key boarders where offended than you should have started a petition years ago when they started the demolition and excavation.
To many of you jack a***** politicize everything and you wonder why s*** can’t get done..