Drainage works now under way at Trents, St James, are aimed at reducing persistent flooding in the tenantry area and preparing the site earmarked for the relocation of the Holetown Civic Centre, the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) said on Friday.
The ministry confirmed that Infra Construction Inc. is carrying out the project on its behalf.
The update comes amid continuing public interest in the government’s plans to relocate the Holetown Civic Centre from its current beachfront location to Trents as part of a wider west coast redevelopment project.
Last year, the government revealed that the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) had been selected for a proposed $176m hotel project at the site of the existing Holetown Civic Centre.
The proposal would require the relocation of the police station, magistrates’ court, library, post office and other government services currently housed there.
The plans generated strong reactions from residents, business operators, heritage advocates and conservation groups, many of whom questioned the impact the project could have on Holetown’s historic character, public access to the area and existing infrastructure.
The ministry also disclosed that work resumed on Tuesday after measures were put in place to address concerns raised by the nearby Frederick Smith Secondary School about dust generated by the project.
According to MTW, a fence was constructed to help contain dust affecting the school.
Part of the proposed Holetown Civic Centre relocation site at Trents, St James, photographed last month before a fence was installed around the work area. The Ministry of Transport and Works says ongoing drainage works are aimed at reducing flooding in the Trents Tenantry area and protecting the future civic centre site. (Photo Credit: Shanna Moore/Barbados TODAY)
Officials subsequently met with representatives of the institution on Thursday and reported that no further issues were identified.
When Barbados TODAY visited the site last month, sections of the property had already been cleared and excavated, with caution signs erected along the roadside warning of ongoing works.
A newly dug retention pond was also visible on the property, while on-site workers indicated that drainage infrastructure was being installed as part of the project.
Flooding remains a concern for some residents who live and work in the area.
Maria, who works nearby and declined to give her surname, lamented the impact heavy rainfall has on sections of Holetown and surrounding communities.
“The post office is flooded. The police station is flooded. The water comes up when there is heavy rain,” she told Barbados TODAY.
“There’s no way you can control water. Water has a way of moving.”
She also expressed concerns about traffic congestion, construction dust and the effect prolonged works could have on nearby businesses and schools.
Others said their concerns centre less on flooding and more on the lack of information available about the final design and layout of the proposed civic centre.
Airbnb operator Artneal Abby said residents living closest to the site still have many unanswered questions.
“There is zero information,” he said.
“There’s a big board there for quite a long time and it says if you want to see the plans, click on this link. When you go on that link, there aren’t any plans to see. We don’t know the size of the buildings, where the car park’s going, where the roads are going. There isn’t any information.”
Abby said residents would like a clearer understanding of how the development will affect neighbouring properties and the wider community.
“What I would like is a letter outlining exactly what they’re going to do and a picture of what it’s going to look like so we can see if there are going to be buildings directly behind us or whether it’s going to be a car park,” he said.
Not everyone is opposed to the project.
Resident Jaiye Maynard told Barbados TODAY he welcomed the clearing of the site and believes relocating the police station to the area could improve safety.
“I’m happy for it,” he said. “Having a police station here will bring a lot of safety to the area.”
(SM)
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