Chancery Lane Development Update

Chancery Lane Wetland

While working at Town & Country Development Planning Office in 2006 I first learned about the “Environmental Estate” development proposal for Chancery Lane Wetland. My initial reaction to the proposal was to write a convincing memorandum to the Chief Town Planner Mr. Mark Cummins on the preservation of the area. This memorandum was submitted and noted at the time but the initial development proposal lapsed and all was forgotten.

In 2009 the proposal was resubmitted by the developers with a detailed EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) that was required by the Town Planner. This EIA was then made available to the public (as required by law) with the intention of solicitation of comments by the public. Following the month long period this document was available a Town Hall meeting was held in the Silver Sands area to introduce the project to the community and to get input on how the community felt about the proposal. The Town Hall meeting was well attended and the overwhelming feelings and comments from the community were against the proposed development, LEED (Leaders in Energy & Environmental Design) certified or not!

Chancery Lane Development Proposal

Excerpt from original memorandum to the Chief Town Planner;

Chancery Lane Wetland is located on the south side of the island and according to the PDP (Physcial Development Plan) “The site is of great natural beauty and provides a dramatic view to the sea from the escarpment above.” It is also “A site of natural significance to Barbados that exhibits the diversity of coastal wetland, in a relatively undeveloped state. It has importance as a bird and sea turtle nesting area and is important as a recreational and education resource as well as a location of archeological resources.” The site is large and offers birds seclusion from noise, development and other disturbances. Many birds frequent this wetland for this purpose. It is also important to note that the Chancery Lane Wetland is a safe refuge for birds during shooting season. Unfortunately, development is encroaching from all sides of the wetland including the new Long Beach Hotel condominium development above the swamp to the north east. As a result of encroaching development it is important to keep the existing buffer around the swamp in order to retain its integrity as a relatively remote and undeveloped wetland. Some of the species of birds that have been found at this location are the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrines).

The relevant literature points to the preservation of existing wetlands as being the first step to sustainable development. The Government of Barbados is aware of this and has taken the first steps to preserving the site by including information in the PDP geared toward preservation. Such information can be found in the Section 4.3.3.2 Chancery Lane Special Study Area iii) “while most of the site area of the ecosystem is considered environmentally and culturally significant, the study could review the potential to include limited development involving the retention and enhancement of the wetlands, grass areas, beach berm and beach. As part of the final approval process the majority of the site will be designated as a Natural Heritage Conservation Area and may be purchased by the government for conservation, public use and passive recreation activity.”

So what is the update on this development proposal you might ask? During a short conversation on February 14^th 2011 with Mrs. Marjorie Stuart-Griffith the town planner in charge of the area it was reported that the development proposal was still in the hands of the Prime Minister who has executive decision over coastal land developments and development proposals over 10 hectares. Mrs. Stuart-Griffith assured me that when she receives an update from the Prime Minister’s office she will let me know the outcome.