Ruction at Vale View

TO WHAT extent, if any, do agencies which approve building projects monitor the progress of such construction works? We ask the question in light of the severe inconvenience which residents of Vale View Terrace, St Lucien Road, Diego Martin are now experiencing as a result of the building of an apartment complex on the steep slope above them. Owner and developer of the land Mr Gowkaran Mahabir claims that he has the permission of the EMA, Town and Country Planning and WASA to carry out the private project but because of the major problems which the hillside construction work is creating for residents below we must wonder about the purpose and effectiveness of such approvals.

Surely the responsibility of these agencies, particularly the EMA and Town and Country, do not end when they issue certificates of approval to land developers. The proposed development is supposed to proceed according to certain conditions laid down by these bodies but, we must now ask, what mechanism or system do they have in place to ensure that these conditions are followed? Do they have inspectors who monitor the progress of these projects by regular visits? MP for the area Mr Colm Imbert himself has expressed concern about the Vale View development and is seeking to find out whether approval for the project was given, by whom and, if so, whether the contractor is acting in compliance with EMA guidelines. Mr Imbert observed that contractors were responsible for putting in place temporary systems to ensure that no mess, no drainage problems and no inconvenience to nearby residents takes place. "This project is clearly not in compliance with that" he remarked.

Several weeks ago, this newspaper questioned the wisdom of permitting developers to clear and denude semi-forested hillsides to build residences since it would aggravate or increase the risk of flooding when the rains come. Because of the cutting into the Vale View hillside, residents of the lower areas now fear inundation by mud slides during the wet season now beginning. But apart from that, the various aggravations of the construction have become quite annoying. Trucks enter private roads without permission, park on public roadways and block entrances to side streets and home garages. On Friday night, trucks and bulldozers on St Lucien road caused a major traffic jam from Sierra Leone Road to Wendy Fitzwilliams Boulevard. For several months heavy bulldozers have been pounding the sidewalk on St Lucien Road in order to climb the narrow hillside path to the construction site. On Sunday one resident discovered that the massive machines had broken her solid two-year-old concrete wall but, we are told, the developers refused to acknowledge responsibility for the damage.

Residents complain that work on the project starts early every day, including Sundays, finishing late at nights and the noise of the heavy equipment has become almost unbearable. One Vale View family now fear for the safety of their home on which they have already done costly repairs. Indira and Keith Mitchell have written to all the authorities and their representative about the danger to their house. They are also asking for access to their home, the ability to get in and out without being stuck in mud, for their peace of mind and the security of their family. Why should one development which appears questionable in the first place be permitted to create such distress among nearby residents who say they are unable to get even the cooperation of the Police? Somebody must be responsible for protecting a peaceful neighbourhood from this kind of disturbing invasion.