WOODBROOK residents are asking for more meaningful and convenient development that will preserve and complement the community’s historic value.
The 111-year-old community was sold to the Port of Spain Town Board in 1911. Its Victorian gingerbread cottages and the National Trust heritage site – the Lapeyrouse Cemetery – are the footprint of the area.
Of its 32 streets, the oldest ones are named after British generals.
From its rich history coming out of the Woodbrook Estate, owned by the Siegert family, who created Angostura bitters, it is also home to Mandela Park formerly known as George IV Park.
Over the years Woodbrook has been one of the fast developing communities in the country.
But within the last 20 years, it took on a new face by becoming the night-life entertainment hub of Port of Spain.
But the residents feel their community is not meant to be an entertainment hub.
While this change has revolutionised the area attracting more business activities, residents said they have been stifled by this ongoing expansion.
[caption id="attachment_968630" align="alignnone" width="1024"] People liming on Ariapita Avenue which is an enterainment nightspot. - SUREASH CHOLAI[/caption]
According to the residents, Woodbrook has been turning into “one big toilet” for patrons. They said issues of illegal parking have trapped them in their homes on several occasions. If they don’t have to deal with parking, issues with prostitution, the socially-displaced, robberies and excessive insults and harassment from patrons surface.
Every Sunday morning, their driveways are littered with faeces, garbage and vomit from partygoers from weekend activities.
Speaking to Sunday Newsday, they explained they have had enough and promised to do all in their power to return it to an unsullied state.
While they understand change is inevitable, they will not accept changes that will cost them their peace, comfort and security.
They deny they are against development but prefer to have proposals that improve the community.
Lynette Dolly, head of the Woodbrook Residents Committee, in an interview on Wednesday, said, “We grew up with business, but not what is happening on Ariapita Avenue.”
In the past, she said, Woodbrook businesses provided services that didn’t create nuisances.
“Take us forward. We have grown up, we are 60 years of independence. Let's show that we can have best practice if we want heritage tourism, and we can provide that.
“Those that left were forced out of our homes. We were terrorised by the nuisances and forced to sell.”
These issues started when the casinos arrived, Dolly said.
Soon after the problems were exacerbated when the bars and clubs were allowed to operate among residential homes.
The residents predict schools, century-old churches, and other essential services would be history and replaced by more bars and entertainment stops to fall in line with the vision of Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell and Port of Spain mayor Joel Martinez.
And because they are convinced the Judiciary
