JOHN BATTEN GALLERY / Destruction of Central's Wet Market /

Destruction of Central's Wet Market

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has applied to the Town Planning Board to re-develop three blocks of land in the middle of Central's historic 140-year old wet market – the market running down Graham Street and Peel Street.

Comments and objections to this re-development can be made to the Town Planning Board by Friday 15 April 2007 (see information below).

The URA wishes to build four large towers over three blocks of land:

Site A: A 34-storey residential/commercial building

Site B: A 36-storey residential/commercial building

Site C: Two tower blocks as follows:

- a 30-storey hotel/commercial building
- a 37-storey office/commercial building

The major reasons to object to the URA's re-zoning application and development plans are:

• the area is currently a low-rise building area and the planned buildings are just too high.

• the URA has made no provision to retain the market, so during the long construction period this historic market will just be allowed to slowly die as construction noise and construction vehicles monopolise the site – shoppers will slowly find the environment an unpleasant place in which to shop which will eventually force market stall-holders to close.

• this unique market area needs to be carefully preserved by sensitive upgrading and preservation of some of the present buildings on the site and the appropriate replacement   with similar low-rise buildings. The URA's plans are heavy-handed and reflect its own commercial considerations and financial needs.

• the Town Planning Board needs to make a decision on the merits of the URA's application from an urban planning perspective. The URA's application is bad urban planning which adds nothing to the area.

PLEASE write your letters of objection to the Town Planning Board.

Many thanks for your support.

John Batten  

Contact details:
Tel: 28541018 or e-mail: batten@netvigator.com

Katty Law - email:  ktylaw@gmail.com