May 04 – GSD Highlight “Highly Questionable” Planning And Heritage Decisions
The Government appears to have no valid answers to any political criticism save to criticise the former GSD Government, according to the Opposition’s latest press release.
A statement from the party expands on these criticisms:
“It is the GSLP-Liberals that are in Government now and have been for close to four years. Despite portraying themselves as the New Dawn Government everyone can see all they do to deflect away criticism is to look to the past or muddy the waters. The fact is that despite the much vaunted open DPC meetings, there are some highly questionable decisions being made which has meant or will mean the destruction of a number of iconic buildings in the old town and a complete disregard for the 2009 Gibraltar Development Plan.
“The entire façade of the Police Barracks had been earmarked by that Development Plan for preservation and it is being destroyed, alongside the demolition of the Risso Bakery which is also difficult to justify. What has now happened in Town Range is equally worrying. For the DPC to have given the go-ahead to a 7 storey building in a street which has some of the most beautiful Georgian Buildings in Gibraltar is very serious, particularly when it will also spoil the building in question which has architectural importance in its own right. The enormous extension to No 6 Convent Place is also not in keeping with the area and is a monument to the arrogance of this Government which thinks money is no object when spent on extravagances without regard to consequences.
“GSD policy would be to introduce zoning in Gibraltar. Under that scheme there will be areas where buildings will need to be preserved (the Old Town) and areas where new building can take place (for example Devil’s Tower Road). We will not allow demolition of our heritage in the Old Town and the Gibraltar Development Plan will be strictly enforced on the issue of height within the City Walls. There has to be more focus on holistic planning and less emphasis on empty gestures such as DPC meetings open to the public when the DPC constantly makes questionable decisions. We also note that yet again the Government is silent on the issue of the proposed stadium at Europa Point.”
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