CATEGORY:DEVELOPMENT ------------------------ INSIDE GRENADA THURSDAY May 03,2007 by Agency of Reconstruction and Development Responding to a request from local residents, the Physical Planning Unit (PPU) has established a sub-office to facilitate input on the Local Area Plan for Greater Grenville. This was announced on Wednesday by Minister of Finance and Planning Hon. Anthony Boatswain during the presentation of the Local Area Plan for Greater Grenville. The presentation took place at Bain’s Hall, where various maps of the area were on display for local residents. The new Physical Planning Unit Sub Office, which is located at the Post and District Revenue Office on Victoria Street in Grenville, is open on Wednesdays and Fridays. The call for the sub-office was made during a public meeting in February, along with several other suggestions for the Local Area Plan, marking the commencement of the planning process. Referring to the process as a ‘front end pilot,’ Mr. Richardson Andrews, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Reconstruction and Development, said it is essential for the community to help identify the details, solutions and economic activities as the Plan develops. Greater Grenville comprises about 4,500 acres and is bordered by Conference in the north, Soubise in the south and Mirabeau in the west. In the context of the 2003 National Physical Development Plan, Grenville is defined as the Regional Centre for the north east. During Wednesday’s presentation, Head of the PPU, Mr. Cecil Frederick, outlined some of the concerns and suggestions raised by local residents that are being incorporated in the Plan. These include: * Better traffic conditions; * Improved sidewalks; * More recreational facilities; * Relocation of the abattoir to Mirabeau * Redevelopment of Moonshadow Park to accommodate a new bus terminal; * Construction of a new Grenville Market; * Development of the Human Settlement at Soubise. One of the chronic problems in Grenville has been flooding, since the Town is located at a base elevation along the east coast, which increases risks of flooding. Moreover the watershed of Greater Grenville has three waterways draining into Grenville. The Local Area Plan for Greater Grenville is a joint effort involving the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Community Development, the Agency for Reconstruction and Development, The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Canadian Institute of Planning (CIP) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Geography students from the T.A. Marryshow College will also be involved in the collection of data for the Plan. CIDA has provided a grant of $152,300 (US) through the CDB, while the CIP has assigned two young professionals to work with the PPU for one year.