Government says it has completed a promised review of the rules and restrictions for building on private land in the vicinity of the Virgin Gorda Airport and is to have meetings shortly with the affected property owners. Photo: VINO

According to Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, the studies completed gives a very clear picture what land near the Virgin Gorda Airport can be developed and what can’t be "and it’s a different picture to what we had before." Photo: VINO

“One of the concerns in Virgin Gorda is about development issues surrounding land around the airport. We have now completed studies that address those issues and propose to have meetings shortly with those who have property lying in the airport area,” Premier Smith disclosed at the Government’s ‘On the Road’ meeting at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda last evening, May 29, 2013.

During the Budge Debate in the House of Assembly in December of 2012, concerns were raised by Opposition Leader and Representative of the Ninth District, Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE who had said he was well aware that certain areas surrounding the airport must remain clear for safety reasons but thought it was ridiculous “to tell people whose land is far away from the airport that the construction of a one-storey house might not be allowed.”

Premier Smith had then promised a review of the rules and restrictions for building on private land near the airport.

“Many people have land along the airport which they have bought to develop...They’ve been told that they cannot develop it based on discussions with Town and Country Planning and the Airports Authority,” Premier Smith had informed the House of Assembly.

At the meeting last evening, a woman who claimed to be a land owner in the vicinity of the airport wanted to know what was the final decision regarding the property owners. “Can we sell? Are you willing to purchase the land? What is your decision on that?”

In his response, Dr Smith said “The studies completed gives us a very clear picture what land can be developed and what can’t be and it’s a different picture to what we had before. So what we are doing, we are going to have another meeting with those who have land in the area in the next couple of weeks.”