A public meeting to discuss the controversial plan to build a new Parks Department HQ in the heart of the Botanical Gardens has been described as “disappointing” by the action group, which has vehemently opposed the project.

The Government called the meeting at the Berkeley Institute cafetorium to explain why it wants to develop the old maintenance yard at the Gardens into a centre for 120 Parks staff, new staff parking, two new buildings, a water tower and a throughway.

However, a spokesman for Take Back Our Park said: “The presentation consisted of a short power point presentation, that was on a loop, and plans laid out on a table.

“Considering planning approval was given four years ago — when the scheme was advertised as 169 South Road and not the Botanical Gardens — and considering that the water tower is already there, and the site has been completely excavated, it is a bit late to be calling this meeting public consultation.

Read more here: http://www.royalgazette.com/news/article/20161118/botanical-gardens-consultation-upsets-tbop