Contractor urges fast-tracking of Bridgetown redevelopment plans

The aftermath of the Chapman Lane fire. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts) Former president of the Barbados Contractors and Artisans Association, Troy Williams, is urging officials to speed up urban redevelopment in Bridgetown after a major fire at Chapman Lane. He warns that old buildings and crowded neighbourhoods put residents at constant risk of fire.​ ​Speaking with Barbados TODAY after the fire, which left multiple families without homes, Williams expressed sympathy for those affected while highlighting structural vulnerabilities across The City’s older communities. ​”This is yet again another unfortunate incident of nature, obviously because of the ancient build-up of The City,” he said. “Definitely, they need to be looking, which they are looking at the densely populated areas and the building structures to meet new standards through the Bridgetown redevelopment initiatives to redevelop parts of The City, because obviously Bridgetown is a historical city.” ​Williams said he is confident that city officials and planners will see this disaster as a reason to speed up modern housing projects and upgrade city infrastructure. ​​”I’m almost certain that this will bring further attention to The City for plans to be accelerated to improve the overall development of The City,” Williams said. ​A central element of the debate surrounding urban regeneration in Bridgetown is its old layout. Williams noted that because many wooden and stone buildings were built close together years ago, fires can spread quickly. You Might Be Interested In ​”As a contractor, I know how important it is to have houses built to allow space and so on,” Williams said. “That was a planning issue because The City would have been built many years back. So now, there is a need to make the necessary improvements to do what they need to do when circumstances like this happen regularly.” ​Addressing the broader Bridgetown Redevelopment Master Plan, which includes proposals for taller buildings and new funding, Williams emphasised that it is time to move from planning to action. “This really shows we need to fast-track the plans. Another incident like this shows the urgency of making the development happen,” he said. ​When asked whether Bridgetown could accommodate modern high-rise residential structures without causing parking and traffic congestion, Williams cited structural design solutions used in busy cities like New York and Panama City. He said future city housing should include multi-level parking, elevators and modern safety rules, including special gathering areas and emergency routes. ​”They can bring underground car parks or above-ground car parks,” he suggested. “Bring multi-space car parks, and then the rest of the residences can utilise elevators to carry the load, alongside staircases for those who prefer them. ​”All these modern buildings would require the necessary emergency access. They are building spaces where you have a clear gathering point, or what you call a muster point. All these things have to be taken into serious consideration as we redevelop the capital.” (RR)