Hopewell Transport Centre to be repurposed for public parking

WESTERN BUREAU:

With the Hopewell Transport Centre in Hanover not being utilised for its original purpose, the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) is planning to use the space for public parking.

“In a recent committee meeting, the transport centre at Hopewell was discussed and we realise that the need for general parking space within the Hopewell area is well needed, so the decision was taken in the meeting for us to convert that area into general parking,” Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels stated.

Discussion have been taking place for years between public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators in Hopewell, Hanover police, Transport Authority and the HMC about getting PPV operators to start using the facility, which was constructed by the HMC as an origination and termination point.

In the past, the Hanover police stated that if the transport centre is properly used it would assist their efforts in curtailing the daily traffic congestion that is occurring in Hopewell.

This makes the second time in less than a year that discussions have been held within the HMC to change the aesthetics within the Hopewell Transport Centre. In July 2023, plans were revealed at a HMC monthly meeting to construct some 25 shops for rental in the space. The view was that if patrons are using the facility, PPV operators will go there.

“You will be seeing some work taking place in the transport centre starting soon. We will be removing the lanes that are there, so that we will have parking for the town of Hopewell, which will ease the congestion that we are now having within the town itself,” Samuels noted.

He argued that persons using the businesses in Hopewell can now utilise the available public parking facility and walk to the respective businesses they wish to patronise.

No consultation

It would appear that no consultation was done by the HMC with regard to their latest decision. However, as some residents of Hopewell are opposed to the move.

In the meantime, Samuels said that discussions will be held with the Transport Authority about how PPV operators will be facilitated in the area. He went on to discourage drivers of any vehicle from parking along the main roadways in the town of Hopewell.

The PPV operators, however, have complained that the facility lacks proper conveniences, and is not gazetted so it is not on their road licence, among other issues.

“Let it not be said that we as PPV operators are not willing to use the facility, as we have said through our association that as long as sanitary conveniences are put in it and the police are willing to monitor the town square so that robot operators do not take it over, we will utilise that transport centre,” one taxi operator told The Gleaner.

A Hopewell resident has other views.

“It is a straight monetary decision,” the resident told The Gleaner. “Enough thought has not been put into that plan, as the taxis will still be terminating their trips and parking in the town square, the congestion will still be there.

“Also, if they cannot get the taxis to park there who says private vehicle owners are going to pay for parking there?” he questioned.

editorial@gleanerjm.com