SPALDINGS, Clarendon:
THE CLARENDON Parish Council has stepped up its drive aimed at ensuring that residents in that parish comply with the building code there.
Superintent for Roads and Works at the Council, Winston Kelly, said that in order to have persons comply with the building code in Clarendon, the Planning Department had assigned additional building officers to various sections of the parish to see that residents comply.
Mr. Kelly noted that the department has also asked all Councillors to assist his department in making sure that those who intend to start construction in their division to go through the proper channel before they commence doing so.
He stated that the decision to ask for their assistance has started to bear fruit, as several persons have been co-operating with the planning department in having building plans approved.
He said there was still room for improvement in the level of compliance as the planning department was not a hundred per cent satisfied.
Mr. Kelly pointed out that the lack of compliance with the building code in Clarendon, could be attributed to a lack of information on the part of residents as to whether they should submit their plans to the Parish Council.
The Superintendent for Road and Works named areas such as Spaldings and Kellits as two areas where efforts were being made by building officers to have persons submit building plans, as part of its drive to achieve 100% compliance.
He stated that in areas where the Parish Council had noticed that persons have started construction without the necessary approval, notices have been served on the guilty parties to come in. This move, he stated, has also forced other persons to visit the planning department for approval.
Meanwhile, although he was unable to give a figure as to the level of increase in revenue being collected by the Parish Council for the approving of building plans, Mr. Kelly noted that there has been a significant increase in revenue.
He said the Parish Council has already collected more than what had been budgeted for, for the year.
