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Recreational area to make way for another high-rise building
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Another open area in the South District is to be done away with to make way for a high-rise building. This is what is being planned for the recreational area next to the Central Hall and which was used by MOD civilian personnel and others who became members.
Swimming pool, tennis etc made this site popular for people to enjoy themselves in Gibraltar's limited recreational areas.
And ironically this new 'monster' is to be built right in front of the nine exMOD dwellings in South Pavilion Road which have been put out to tender, with promises of 'sea views'!
The 'sea views' are there today - but for how long?
It is being said that this area is being awarded to a well-known developer, apparently without going out to tender.
It is also said that there have been interested parties eager to promote this site as a recreational area, such as a club open to all, but this has been turned down.
Meanwhile, the South District Association have come out saying that they would like to bring this to public attention since this is directly opposite nine ex-MOD houses which have recently been put out to tender by the government described as having 'patios, car port and sea views.' Prospective tenderers should be aware that the 'sea views' from these houses have a fast approaching 'best before' expiry date when they consider how much money to tender for these houses, if at all.
LOST
They add: "The Government is offering these houses with sea views in the full knowledge that the site directly opposite will be developed and therefore, the views these properties enjoy, as well as the majority of afternoon sunlight, will be lost."
It is also believed that this site has water tanks similar to those the government has seen fit to destroy at the Rosia Tanks site and of a similar age.
"We would remind the public that the South District a few months ago was promised 'green areas' - we would suggest therefore that a more appropriate use for this site would be to use it for recreational purposes similar to the use by the MOD and thereby preserve any heritage value of this area, maintain both the sea views and thereby the value of the houses now on tender," said the Association.
STRAIN
This whole area is fast being destroyed with oversized buildings that will put a strain on services. The huge Nelson's View development on the site of the old watertanks; the Anchorage next to the RGP headquarters, with old buildings there currently being demolished, and now, just a few metres up the road, plans for another high-rise building.
This whole area is serviced by just two roads - Rosia Road which is one way south and South Pavilion Road, which is narrow and with dangerous bends which will become more dangerous with increased traffic. The little Transport Road lane is between the RGP and the new development there, with people wondering what will happen to it.
Clearly, the planning or lack of it going on in that area is poised to cause untold problems in the future for all residents, old and new alike.
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