Nov 14 - GSLP Party Political Broadcast on Housing, Technical Services and Traffic
The full text of Housing, Traffic and Technical Services Minister Paul Balban’s party political broadcast, shown on GBC yesterday evening, is as follows:
‘Good evening.
Our fast approaching final year in Government will see the completion of our remaining projects and the fulfillment of our manifesto commitments. It has been a very busy and exciting three years for us in Government, and I sincerely believe, a great three years for Gibraltar, a Gibraltar that has experienced vast improvements across the board, from an increase in transparency throughout, to monthly meetings of Parliament, updated monthly statistics to a new park and green area in the center of town for all to share and enjoy, Commonwealth Park. From a new Gibraltar University in the pipeline and much needed small boats marina also now in progress to a new ID Card, which will form the backbone to our e-Government framework – the list goes on and on…. Of those manifesto commitments that were entrusted to me, I can report that the challenge has been gratifying and rewarding and seeing projects completed and others progressing to plan has given me an incredible sense of achievement.
Because of the magnitude and scale of some of the projects entrusted to me, many of my manifesto commitments are still in the making but most importantly on track. It gives me enormous satisfaction to see how our new Housing Projects are progressing, literally growing by the day. Mons Calpe Mews, Beach View Terraces, Charles Bruzon House. The allocation of these flats are now nearing completion. The applications received to purchase these estates have shown that affordable homes are what people clearly want. No less than 3000 applications were received for just under 900 flats for sale. A further 143 flats for pensioner occupation are also being built on a rental basis.
Major investment has seen the transformation of our once neglected estates, Moorish Castle, Laguna and Glacis Estate. As the scaffolds start to come down the new and beautiful façades are being revealed. Feedback from tenants of these estates is truly rewarding. The installation of lifts within these estates is also being carried out, if the block itself permits. Over and above this, Government continues to refurbish other estates in a timely manner using resources effectively in order to be able to cover as many estates and blocks that need attention as possible. This will tackle the very many serious issues of water ingress, damp and humidity, which tenants of these estates have been complaining about for many, many years. Refurbishment has been on going in phases at Alameda Estate, St. Joseph’s Estate, Sandpits House, Godley Mansions and Anderson House. We will shortly also be announcing the continuation of the refurbishment of Varyl Begg Estate. Within Chilton Court, works completed recently saw the parking availability increase by 25 bays and a change in the flow of traffic was also carried out making entry and exit to this estate safer and more practical.
After a multitude of trials carried out, Technical Services Department have now found a suitable material to fill in the joints of the paving blocks along Main Street which have been the source of complaint by many ladies wearing high heels. Works will commence in early 2015.
Our commitment to embark on a Major Highways Maintenance Program has now seen major resurfacing works carried out to Rosia Road, Line Wall Road and Flat Bastion Road apart from the on-going annual maintenance program. Works to resurface Queensway as part of this project are in the pipeline. The sewers rehabilitation program is also progressing well with desilting and the undertaking of surveys. Works seeing the notorious stretch of Line Wall Road sewer re-lined using modern and non-invasive methods causing the minimum obstruction to traffic as possible have now been completed. Work is now proceeding on the desilting and survey of the next section of sewers southwards along Rosia Road.
Finally, I am pleased to report that that our multi-disciplinary and ministerial Sustainable Traffic, Transport & Parking Plan is now at a very advanced stage and a document for public consultation will be made available shortly. I am confident that there will be many positive improvements for Gibraltar in this respect as a result of the plan, which will have a positive impact on our environment, our traffic, our parking and our needs for public transportation.
All in all, I am very proud of our progress as a Government. We confidently approach 2015, knowing that we have given our utmost to help improve Gibraltar making it a better place right across the board for all of the community. Thank you for putting your trust in a GSLP /Liberal Government.
Thank you for listening.
Good night.’
