Jul 13 - GSD Question Government's Use Of HMS Rooke Site

The GSD has expressed concern regarding the HMS Rooke site after the Government published an expression of interest for potential development in the press on Friday. 

A spokesman for the GSD said: "Hot on the heels of the GSD announcing its plans to build a new school at the HMS Rooke site to make room for sporting facilities, including upgrading Victoria Stadium to be EUFA compliant and so saving Europa Point, what do the GSLP/Liberals do? They advertise on a Friday in the Gibraltar Chronicle for expressions of interest from private sector developers, investors or organisations to develop the HMS Rooke site.

"The potential sale of such a large tract of land, shortly to come into public hands, in the centre of town to developers strikes us as a strange move on the part of a so called socialist Government and that this would certainly not be in the public interest.

"The GSD announced plans are entirely for the benefit of the community and of the environment. It allows for the Victoria Stadium to be upgraded as necessary, for more sporting facilities to be made available and for a brand new school to be built, making unnecessary the plans that the GSLP/Liberals have for their much opposed stadium at Europa Point.

"The GSLP/Liberals would replace the GSD proposals for the use of the HMS Rooke site with a proposal that allows private sector developers, investors and organisations to profit from what is public property that is best used, in this case, to benefit the community as a whole.

"The GSD consider that the advertisement is a cynical move by the GSLP/Liberals, just prior to an election, to try to derail the GSD proposals for the HMS Rooke site that are so much more beneficial for the community and the environment. The GSD pledges that its more community orientated plans will be included in its Manifesto for the next election, together with a commitment to scrap any alternate use by private developers that the advertised GSLP/Liberal proposal for the HMS Rooke site may generate." 

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