by ALBERT BRANDFORD

PLANS are in the making to convert the former BANDCOS cooperative supermarket building in Silver Hill, Christ Church, into a community centre and shopping facility, at an estimated cost of $1/4 million.

This was disclosed on Thursday night by Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for the Christ Church West Central constituency, Joe Edghill, during a mass meeting at Silver Hill.

Edghill, who also played a major role in the conversion of the former Club Randall dancehall in Gall Hill into a resource centre and market, said he had approached Prime Minister Owen Arthur about funding for the project.

"If you go to [the BANDCOS] building ... you will be aware of the fact that work has already started to complete some toilets, first of all, to the bottom, and then later on, we are thinking in terms of creating some shops around
this particular building and using the upstairs as a community centre so that the people in Silver Hill will be able to form a club and have various community development programmes in that constituency," he said.

"So I am looking forward to that part which has started to be finished in another two months, and I have asked the Prime Minister for some funds so that we would be able to do a lot more with that facility in a very short space of time," the candidate added.

Edghill, in defending his stewardship over the last 13 years, said that apart from jobs provided, there had been significant development in the constituency, with many lights installed, more than 21 tenantry roads built, and 51 houses repaired, mainly for the elderly.

He said other plans for the next year or two included the provision of 500 house spots in the constituency, some
at Kendal Hill and some in the area going from Vauxhall towards Bannatyne on which preparatory work had
already begun.

In addition, he noted, a parcel of land – 7.3 acres – had been identified at Cane Vale and bought by Government for a football field to replace one converted about 25 years ago into a housing development in Gall Hill.

Edghill reported that in the next financial year, Government would erect a pavilion for sports in Gall Hill, and it was anticipated that the new facility would be developed to such an extent that foreign teams could use it for practice sessions, which would help to enhance football in the region.

He was, however, concerned about the length of time being taken to sell the National Housing Corporation units to tenants in Gall Hill, and said he had discussed the matter with the relevant authorities and was looking forward to seeing those units for sale being completely refurbished within the next year.