Udecott backs off President’s Grounds

This was announced in a media release yesterday which stated that Udecott will “review other options other than construction on the disputed portion (approximately 4,500 sq metres) of the President’s Grounds.” The total area of the grounds is 20,072 sq metres.

The St Ann’s Cascade Hololo Community Group which has been in negotiations with Udecott for the past five weeks have rejected any loss of green space.

A meeting was held yesterday between the group and Udecott officials at the St Ann’s Community Centre and discussions are expected to continue.

The release quotes Udecott officials advising the group, “our team will look at alternatives so that we can move ahead with this project.”

Udecott claims the residents have flatly rejected its proposals for increasing the net area of recreational land currently used from under 4.9 acres to 6.1 acres using both the President’s Grounds and the Ministry of Community Development site to the north. It said residents also rejected the provision of a regulation size football and rugby field (reconfigured north to south) including bleachers for spectators; and provision of a new community centre with basketball/netball courts and parking lot.

This proposal also included changing room and the establishment of a police post on the site of the Ministry of Community Development site.

Udecott said the community group had proposed the relinquishing of a smaller portion of the grounds required if the existing access roads to the Prime Minister’s residence are incorporated into the reconfigured President’s Grounds.