PALM GROVE ROAD GENERATES CRITICISM

 by Mellica McPherson

 While a large segment of the public is disagreeing with Government’s decision to construct a road in the Palm Grove area in order to ease traffic congestion, the road has been cut despite an announcement last week that work was being “paused”.

How can a road and a park co-exist on such a tiny spot? Government officials say that the new road and the Palm Grove Park can co-exist. Senior Public Servants explained the rationale behind the project to the community on Thursday 24 November VITV Public Eye program. Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Elroy Turnbull, Deputy  Director of the  Public Works Department, Dr. Drexel Glasgow, Chief Planning Officer of the Town and Country Planning Department, Louis Potter, and Head of the Traffic Department, Inspector Kenrick Headley made convincing statements as they announced to the public that the road was the only logical means of curbing the traffic congestion. The discussion was moderated by Chief Minister’s Office Director of Communications Sandra Ward. The panelists spoke on a range of topics such as the need for the road, why the option of widening the existing road was not chosen, the problem of the new road compromising plans being made for Palm Grove, how the road will affect existing parking lots, and how accidents are going to be prevented on the new road. After the entire panel had given persuasive points why the road should be constructed, the phone lines were opened for residents to voice their concerns. The majority of callers tried to provide other options besides the construction of the controversial road.

Rationale of the Road

Dr. Glasgow explained that the current road that runs along Mill Mall and the proposed Banco Popular has been for some time an area where severe traffic congestion is a common occurrence. He disclosed that the decision to curb the traffic situation was taken upon a while ago.  Dr. Glasgow said that the road proposal was expected to reduce the traffic congestion in that area, while implementing a relief route for the DeCastro Street  -- a road along the vicinity of ScotiaBank -- since plans are on the way to make both streets one way. He went on to say that “the traffic congestion in the area is today a problem and we anticipate as more and more vehicles traverse this particular section of the road way it will be definitely a bigger problem, therefore there needs to be a relief route.”

Inspector Headley commented that with the implementation of the new road he foresees that there will be an ease of the congestion. Especially in the area where the road will be constructed since there is currently a problem with parking between the two banks. The inspector explained that one must also take into consideration the tourist who frequents that area. “This is the first place that they will come upon after leaving the cruise ship so having an easier flow of traffic, more accommodating side walks and so forth will really enhance the area,” Headley said.

Widening the existing Road Instead to Constructing a New Road

The question of having the existing road widened as opposed to constructing another road was asked by the moderator. Mr. Glasgow answered saying that the widening of the existing road is a plausible solution that has been investigated. “However we found that even if the road way is widened, there will still be traffic congestion because the capacity of that section of the road way between FirstBank and Admin Drive is not enough, “ Glasgow stated.

The New Road compromising what is Being Planned for Palm Grove

“We do not anticipate having a great impact on Palm Grove. The amount of area that we have taken to do the road is less than 30 feet. If we are to look at the bigger Palm Grove that area is just a small sub section. It is important to understand that we do not expect to totally take away the Palm Grove idea or the park idea. We believe that both the new road and the Palm Grove Park can co-exist and we anticipate making this road very pedestrian friendly by putting up side walks and also by replanting the trees that were hit down,” Glasgow said as he tried to convince the public that the two proposals are still possible.

How Wide Will the New Road Be?

The Deputy Director of the Public Works Department mentioned that they are going to make the road about 14 feet, and that it will also become a one way going in the direction of Bobby’s. Glasgow went on to say that since the plan will be serving the park area and the development of Palm Grove

How will the new road Affect Existing Parking Between the FirstBank and Mill Mall?

The new road is expected to cause six to seven existing parking spots to disappear. However, Glasgow pointed out that the disappearance of the parking lots is just a small sacrifice that must be made to fix the traffic problems.

How are they planning to prevent accidents as people travel from Admin Drive to the new road?

The Public Works Deputy Director stated that the new road is designed in a way that it is going to cut the parking lot in two, with the lower side or the side closer to the Mill Mall being blocked off from accessing FirstCaribbean Bank. Inspector Headley opined that it is a regular occurrence for people to park their vehicles along the FirstCaribbean Bank driveway. He said that the Traffic Department will be looking into that, so as to enforce a stricter parking policy in terms of not allowing persons to block the passageway. The inspector went on to say that he is hoping that with the implementation of the road  that particular problem would be eliminated

How they will monitor traffic?

The head of the Traffic Department explained that they are now considering a higher police presence in the area because it is a new initiative and therefore persons may need directions as to how the road should be used. For that reason a police officer will be placed on location in the earlier stages, so as to ensure that the traffic moves properly and that persons follow the rules of the road, especially in the area of FirstBank.

Plans for the Development of Palm Grove as a Park

In his statement, Mr. Potter told the public that over the years there have been several concepts for the development of Palm Grove as a park. He said that the ultimate goal was to make the area a public space, to allow people to use it at lunch time, and for various events. He disclosed that the area was also meant to give individuals visiting Road Town somewhere to get some shade while they are enjoying the town.

Potter explained that “the process of getting to Palm Grove means that there need to be effective and safe both pedestrian and efficient vehicular movement, and we tried several ways to address that, among those was the concept for a road, different options of roads were given; some of which we rejected over the years. The idea of the road was rebalanced against the fact that the driveway next to the Romney Penn Building and FirstCaribbean was going to be utilized as a pedestrian drive, thus one of the concepts in the Wickham’s Cay plan is going to be achieved and indeed become a people’s space. The lay-by that will be put in, next to the new one way road, will allow for people to gain easier access.  When those things are done, we believe that the integrity of the Wickham’s Cay Park/ Palm Grove Park will be maintained so we will have a situation where we will gain the benefit of the one-way that will give tremendous efficiency and we will still have the integrity of the park so that people can enjoy it. We can still understand where the original Road Town was and we can use it for whatever ancestor heritage type memories we enjoy.” During that forum Mr. Potter also shared one of the concepts that the Town and Country Planning Department had for the Palm Grove area: “One of the concepts for the Palm Grove area ….was to put some barricades around to ensure that vehicles cannot access Palm Grove itself, to maintain some of the taller trees, to have some hedge and some grass so that the area can be used for the agricultural fairs, etc, some benches and shade was considered so that people can use the place when it is hot. These proposals will be refined earlier the next year.”

The Public’s View on what was said

After all of the panelists spoke the public comments were negative. One male caller held such strong conviction against the Wickham’s Cay Road Project that he was able to find an option to every suggestion the panelists had made. The caller argued against the road saying, “Let us not  destroy that property, what we need to do is go ahead with the park option for that area, widen the corner, and take the vehicles off the road.”

The gentleman went on to say that the Palm Grove by-pass or the road that is to be run through the Palm Grove is not the solution nor the most plausible option to the traffic congestion. He said that the real issue is not so much the traffic and having to do a lay-way through Palm Grove, instead, he said that the real issue is the amount of vehicles presently on the public roads in relationship to the size of the road network. “When we talk about development we must consider balanced development and the fact that we have limited space in the BVI for any form of development including traffic. Right now the traffic has outstripped the space of development and we are compromising historical sites and valuable land to accommodate this traffic, and that is not the solution. This by-pass through the Palm Grove is not the solution the more plausible solution is widening that corner, I have looked at it myself, and I have gone around the area with a few friends, we have discussed it, and the more plausible solution is widening that corner. Also, we talked about eliminating about seven parking lots in the present parking space across from the Palm Grove area…Next we talked about putting police officers in the area in the event that this road does become a reality; but we don’t have enough officers to deal with important issues in the society much less having police officers advocated to that area.”

“Right now people are double parking in the area of the FirstCaribbean Bank and there are no police around there to deal with that traffic. Furthermore the road by the new Customs Building is supposed to be a two way, but it is turning into a one-way with cars parked on it. Where is the police when that happens? No police is there to clear the traffic. Also the area where there is that Chinese shop coming onto Drake’s Highway -- a two way traffic --  there are always cars parked on the side. Where is the police to remove those cars? In essence, making a by-pass through Palm Grove is not the solution, we need to get to the root of the problem and address it properly, or we are just wasting time and taking up valuable, cultural, and historical land. Three slaves were buried in that area, a free black man by the name of  Wickhams is said to be buried on that site, be careful of those trees that you are pulling on because the spirit of Mr. Wickhams may haunt you later in life. I do not support putting a road through the Palm Grove area at all  -- that is ludicrous,” the caller argued.

During the 1700s Wickham’s Cay was used as a burial ground for black people. Vernon Pickering in his “Early History of the British Virgin Islands” discusses legislation passed locally in the 1780s which confirms the use of the Cay as a burial ground. In an upcoming new and expanded book on the history of the BVI, Pickering says that he will divulge more information about this historic site pointing out that in 1798 the “Key” was owned by James Wickham, a free coloured seaman of Road Town, who died in 1822.  A Louisa Wickhams of Road Town was also recorded in the 1820s.

 WICKHAM’S CAY: A 20th CENTURY SAGA

1969 - The Ministerial System has its first serious test over the leasing of Wickham’s Cay and large portions of Anegada to a British developer. The lease had been signed a few months before the introduction of the Ministerial System by then Administrator  Martin S. Staveley. The scheme was designed to confer privilege on British entrepreneurs and expatriates. The Positive Action Movement - a pressure group headed by Noel Lloyd and Walter (Lindy) deCastro - becomes openly opposed to the scheme.  As a result a Commission of Enquiry is appointed to investigate the matter.

1970 - The findings of the Commission of Enquiry into the Anegada-Wickham’s Cay affair are disquieting.

1971 - The Anegada-Wickham’s Cay controversy is settled as the British government disbourses $5.8 million for the local government to acquire the interests of the Anegada Development Company and the Wickham’s Cay Company.

1975 - The Government appoints the Wickham’s Cay Authority for the purpose of developing the area

1994 - The Central Administration Building on Wickham’s Cay opens its doors.

[from Vernon Pickering’s “20th Century British Virgin Islands: A Chronology”©]