Dec 14 - GSD Raises Concerns About GBC Relocation Site
The GSD says it agrees that GBC should be moved from its current South Barracks premises, a building which the corporation has clearly outgrown, but has expressed concern at both the pace of development currently taking place, the suggested location and the lack of sympathy much of this development has with its immediate surroundings. The GSD does not agree GBC should be relocated to the site proposed by Government.
A statement issued to the press said: "The news that GBC will be moved to a new structure to be constructed on the city walls is just another of the growing examples of Government and Town Planning not taking a holistic view of development but taking projects in isolation.
"Government’s proposals for Grand Parade and Minister Linares’s statement to the effect that Government will develop every available space lend weight to a growing concern in the community that there is too much development happening to fast.
"The GSD calls on Government to pause for thought and take a more sympathetic approach to development. The community has welcomed the open space that was created with Commonwealth Park but other opportunities to exploit the few remaining open space are being squandered, vistas are disappearing, our Heritage is under threat, our community is being hemmed in by construction."
Trevor Hammond, GSD spokesman for Planning, Heritage and the Environment, said: “There remain many things to be concerned about regarding our environmental management and much to be done, the pace of construction and what developments are approved is of great importance because, whereas in other aspects of environmental management we can make strives to improve, we can improve our air quality, we can increase our use of renewable energy, when it comes to development it will be years before we can reverse any poor decisions, if they can ever be reversed.
"This issue is important because over development in a community is a known cause of stress and stress is directly linked with public health issues ranging from heart disease to depression and if there is a phrase that I hear repeatedly it is that Gibraltar is just one big building site."
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