Unauthorized scrap yard in GT
(CNS): During a Finance Committee discussion on Tuesday 22 June, Arden McLean, the East End representative, questioned public health officers on what appears to be an unauthorized vehicle scrap yard. In addition to the illegal construction of an office along Shedden Road, McLean had concerns that the area could be a public hazard. McLean stated that the scrap yard could be overrun with rodents and other public nuisances. Another issue he brought up relating to the environmental health issues was that, not only could there be an infestation, but since the vehicles are stacked upon each other in several piles, an accident resulting in a car falling and injuring someone may occur.
“I have received reports that across from Mango Tree there are hundreds of vehicles stacked up there,” said McLean.
Deputy Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly responded to the subject by advising him to mention the situation to the police commissioner since the matter is related to derelict vehicles, which she indicated was more likely to be a police matter than public works.
The opposition party member spoke with CNS and told us that more than just the police and public health services could be involved. The planning department and immigration services could be involved because the people running the scrap yard may not have a permit or business licence. The construction behind all the junk may not have been approved by planning.
Director of the Department of Environmental Health Roydell Carter said that the problem of the derelict vehicles could be down to weaknesses in the Environmental Health Law.
CNS went out to the location of the scrap yard on Shedden Rd by the Mango Tree restaurant. We spoke with customers about buying parts and found that most clients thought it was convenient but they too raised questions about its legality and safety.
Ahleigh Hydes is a 15-year-old worklink student from John Gray High School.
Category: Local News
This is probobly the wrong place to write this post but if anyone is worried about the scrap yard being an eyesore to newly arrived tourists…they will never notice it as they are still reeling from the foul looks and treatment they get from our immigration officers as they arrive at the airport. Our immigration officers are the first "Caymanian" People the tourists see when they arrive. Everytime I come back on Island and come through immigration I feel sad that the people who are coming to visit are scowled at and interrogated. There is a difference between a man with his wife and 3 young children taking a vacation here and 22 year old man coming in alone who papers are not in order but both parties seem to be treated the same. Not one smile, ever, and this is the first impression our visitors see.
Welcome to Banana Republic.
On a similar note, who does one report businesses who clearly do not comply with fire code to? I can think of one pretty near this scrap yard which seems to only have one door in and out open, the remainder locked and/or blocked by merchandise, and to think their store is filled with young babies and expectant mothers all day scares me even more.
All businesses need to comply with the laws of the land.
Lets stop making excuses and enforce the laws if any are being broken in this case.
Does this business have a valid trade and business licence?
If so, non-compliance is not only a police matter as the Trade and Business Licence Board should also play a strong role here.
Well done Ashleigh!
In the past I have spoken with both the DOE and Planning about two properties on Powell Smith Dr in West Bay without any success. They are ineffectual when it comes to upholding the zoning laws or addressing environmental issues. It had become so bad that I eventually sold my home so that I didn’t have to look at these dumps anymore. Eventually home owners will realize the impact these eyesores will have on their property values and only then will something happen if they all complain. Planning needs to take these owners to task – if a property is zoned residential: that is its use and if not there needs to be consequences if the owner doesn’t comply. This is not a political issue but bylaw compliance issue and the responsible departments need solve this immediately as it is evident the problem is island wide. Another example of how badly government is run.
abysmal response from julianna…typical ‘pass the buck’ response from caymanian politicians
Political bickering aside, I would like to commend Ahleigh Hydes on a wonderfully written article. Good to see the youth of Cayman doing something positive. Keep up the good work youngster. CNS nice to see a local company providing an outlet for the development of the Cayman youth.
More Caymanian Justice (Oxymoron?) Leadership crys out. Where’s my cut? Finds someone to blame. Quick! Now fogetaboutit.
I am glad that attention is being brought to this area because I, for one, am disgusted everytime I drive past there. To think that mess is one of the first things our tourists see after arriving at our airport is shameful.
something should be done about all derelict properties in george town…. alot of it looks like something out of the 3rd world…..
maybe there should be a property tax on derelict or unused property…. it would definetly motivate people into doing something with their land instead of just hoarding it…..and also create construction work..etc
Good story, and there are plenty more like this out there.
Arden has mentioned this particular (commerical) scrap yard, but it has been there, unchallenged, for years. Planning Dept – not DEH – could shut it down anytime but turns a blind eye. Why? They know it is there, we all know it is there, and lets face it, most of us are happy to go there and buy used parts at (only!) half the price of new parts (tip – buy from ebay, just pay the shipping & duty and it’s a great deal).
But no matter that it may service a community demand…..so would a brothel. It is a complete eyesore, surely a major oil pollutant into the ground, is unregulated, unlicenced, an obvious health hazard, a safety hazard, etc etc. So why does Govt turn a blind eye? Who is protecting the owner? What does Mr Haroon Pandohie at Planning have to say about this?
I would like you to know that this scrap yard has being in operation for years while the PPM was in power and Arden McLean did not do anything about it……..Do not jump to conclusion when you do not know the facts, because this business has being around after hurricane Ivan……It was first located on Sparky Drive then to it’s present location. WHY NOW? The UDP has nothing to do with it……..Get your facts straight before you accuse others.
You see that is the reason why Members abuse their powers by not having a proper MLA Office in each district with knowledgeable people running them, who do other things in the district beside wasting current, and sitting on the computer all day, gossiping on the phone. They need to get up off their U know what and look for hazzards and necessities in the district. What is the use of complaining any way, no one cares anyway..
I see the safety and environmental side of Arden’s concern but rats don’t appear to be a legitimate one. I have scowered for parts amongst those vehicles and crawled into vehicle shells on a few occasions and have never seen any vermin or any kind of animal. The scrapyard is a convenient source of used parts for many people and I have experienced nothing but straight business, you find the part, negotiate a fair price and make the deal.
I agree that all requirements should be met like any other businesses, but to stifle a business by all of a sudden implementing compliance with issues that have been overlooked (and allowed) through past administrations, and remove a generator within this struggling economy would not serve any benefits. The owner should be allowed to relocate to an approved site (or get all approvals for the current site – after all, commercial junkyards are operated all over the world) within a reasonable time frame and let the business continue.
I respect Arden but there’s something worth pointing out: this junkyard started with Ivan-damaged vehicles in the months after that fella passed through and has grown ever since, meaning at least since early 2005. For four years of the 5+ years that the yard has been in existence, Mr. McLean was a Minister. Didn’t he notice it then?
You have the time to get out and notice these things when you are not in Govt. I do not see that Arden was trying to score any political points against the govt. but rather to bring something to their attention as the Opposition should do.
Any kind of junk will inevitably harbour vermin whether you have seen them or not.
we all know where it is and a lot people i know (including me) know
how business works there. Beside the fact someone could get injured
it is not a big issue having batteries, gallons of old oil and all other fluids
of a old vehicle running in the ground i guess.
You can see it all over the Island…
Bodden Town has one on Nashe Rd, Belford Estate. You need to see the huge vehicles in the pond and in the yards. Another storm like Ivan, woe be the homes.
Who is going to see this? Bodden Town does not have an MLA Office with anyone to drive through the district and report these findings. Also I dont know if we still have three representatives for the district. At least when Ozzie was in, he would drive by the roads, if even only to hear Wha happening.
Good gracious how in the world did no one from the respective departments saw this mess.
Lets watch and see if anything will be done about it.
This is not surprising, anything can happen under the UDP administration. "Anything goes"!
Thank you Arden for bringing it to the public’s attention, but rest assured that nothing will happen. afterall, the UDP is now in charge!
Don’t turn this into a political debate. If you need to know the truth. The mentioned salvage yard started under PPM however, I don’t believe either of the political leaders authorized it. Stop "throwing stones".Ya’ll soon start bringing Nationality in mix. Watch and see!
I would like you to know that this scrap yard has being in operation for years while the PPM was in power and Arden McLean did not do anything about it……..Do not jump to conclusion when you do not know the facts, because this business has being around after hurricane Ivan……It was first located on Sparky Drive then to it’s present location. WHY NOW? The UDP has nothing to do with it……..Get your facts straight before you accuse others.
What about the scrap yard on Farm Land road Arden?
West Bay also have their own Car dump on Town Hall Road, West Bay. XXXXX Its a shame that people just dumps illegally on other people land and don’t give a care.
West Bay have their own pile of dump, somewhere off of Boltins Avenue. However I hear there is plans to block the public from it by building a 10 foot wall around it, which will help somewhat, but will not completely alleviate the problem.
Too true Anon 18:24, but the only way that pile of dump in West Bay will be removed is if the WB people vote it out, a 10′ wall is not going to help at all.