The Beacon’s editorial last Thursday echoed my thoughts: I had been composing a letter with the opening, “Is there a Town and Country Planning Department in existence?”
I live in Freshwater Pond, overlooking the Methodist Church, both new and historic with its church bell. Opposite the church now is the dumpsite for major scrap metal, and next to that is a builders’ yard. There is an established gas station nearby and a workshop that has some welding going on, but this area has been principally residential. How many more industrial establishments will be set up here before we can no longer call this valley an attractive place to live, the owners of the properties having to admit to potential renters or buyers that this is the view from their balconies when they are not enjoying the sea views?
Freshwater Pond was destroyed years ago with the dumping of used propane cylinders. The cattle-dipping run no longer exists.
The traditional aspects of island life are fast disappearing. For whatever reason, the remaining old buildings on the island have been overwhelmed by opportunistic growth and are not visible to our visitors.
Continuing on with Michael Fonseca’s letter of last week, I agree that we should be making more use of our cisterns, but personally I look at the drainage tray under my washed items and see the brown deposit there and wonder what else is in the water other than Sahara dust: lizard and bird poop and Cuban tree frog exudate?
I suppose we should all have water filters installed. I would be happy with that. I will investigate: Maybe the superstore will have them?
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