M&CC halts Holmes St construction

AS the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) continues to clamp down on illegal structures and buildings, it yesterday targetted a four-storied edifice under construction on Holmes Street, South Cummingsburg, halting works at the site and removing building materials and other items. The site was a scene of attention yesterday as flooding in the area caused Town Clerk Royston King and a team to pay the area a visit.

There, they discovered the illegal structure, which compromised the drainage system. The structure is said to be owned by popular city businessman Paul James, owner of Fix-it Hardware store located on Main Street.Multiple truckloads of concrete blocks were also removed from the area. These blocks were stored on the parapet outside the structure. King told the media that approval was not granted by the M&CC for the construction of the building and as such the council would be seizing all building materials that were stored on the parapets and the courts would be approached to have the laws enforced.

“We either dismantle the building or take the owner to court. There was an overtopping and flooding in the area and when we visited, we then realised that the illegal structure was blocking the drainage system. There is also a large amount of waste fluid in the drains, which is affecting the ecology. In addition, he (Mr. James) is dumping builders’ waste around the area instead of removing it immediately,” King explained.King in advising that businessmen and persons who want to proceed with construction within the confines of the city must seek permission from the city engineer’s department at the M&CC.
“People who are involved in business should demonstrate good corporate social responsibility and they should follow the law. Those who want to build should come into the M&CC and apply to the council for permission to erect any structure at all in the city. If they have doubts they can come in for information at the city’s engineers department or the public relations unit,” the Town Clerk emphasised.
Meanwhile, King said other business places which are under investigation for commencing construction works without requisite permission, are the Hotel Tower on Main Street and the building opposite Teleperformance on Camp Street, along with others within the city.