Dear Editor,
I write to inform you that, as a neighbour of the ongoing construction of a three storey building in front of my two properties situate at 148 and 142 Fabricating Street, Eccles, I have not been consulted about its development by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) by way of notice under the laws of Guyana laid down for planning permission nor, as I understand it, has planning permission been granted by the NDC or Central Housing and Planning.
My main concern is how the building has been constructed with no attention to my rights of privacy, light and enjoyment of my adjacent properties. Two bedrooms in my house are immediately overlooked by the property which will most likely have a commercial use. Who permitted the change of use of the land? Is there not a covenant in the title to the land that it only be used for a dwelling house?
The unauthorised construction site has been filled with sand and the various drains to the site blocked up. It has no drains dug out to facilitate run-off from it and I am very concerned about the immediate environs of my adjacent properties and how all water, sewage and other run-off from the site will immediately impact me and my family during the impending rainy season of December-January 2012-13. No consideration has been given to my family’s investment in our adjoining properties and any potential deleterious effects it will have on our residence or enjoyment of our properties. I do not even know for what purpose this building has been erected.
The frontage to my property had a paaled off drain which, since the aforementioned property in front has been developed, has been seriously compromised. I have called on the developer of the site to correct this problem. He claims that concrete drains will be installed on the site but I cannot envisage that happening during the upcoming rainy season, as the concrete casting of drains is virtually impossible during such times. As a consequence I fear my property and all others immediately surrounding the development will be seriously affected and likely flooded, with claims having to be made on our insurance policies. I envisage a potential claim being brought against the owner of the site due to his negligence in relation to this development as well as the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC and the Central Housing and Planning Authority for their apparent failure to ensure correct planning permission was granted for this development and the apparent abrogation of their mandated authority to prohibit all unauthorised development of it.
I call on the NDC and all responsible agencies to immediately remedy this situation to ensure my personal safety, wellbeing and the health of my family and of all of the inhabitants of Eccles village who I believe will be immediately affected and impacted by this development and the mismanagement of the site.
Yours faithfully,
Heather Martins
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Sahed Khan, the Chairman of the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC for any comment he might wish to make.
