A Government-appointed Committee, with oversight by the Ministry and Department of Infrastructure, is to review the design of the Food Court in the Market Square area in The Valley to improve its operations, services and aesthetics.
The matter was briefly mentioned on the radio on Wednesday, February 2nd, by Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Curtis Richardson. It was further elaborated on by Permanent Secretary, Mr. Larry Franklin, in a conversation with The Anguillian.
The intention is to better reorganise and re-establish the facility, taking into account such matters as the need for proper restrooms and other sanitary requirements, problems of congestion and other factors. Such a situation militates against its operations as a location where food is served in what should be a hygienic and well-established place of local culinary business.
According to Mr. Franklin, the Committee is to meet with vendors and other stakeholders to examine ways and means of improving the Food Court and its operations. A draft memorandum is to be taken to Executive Council within the next two or three weeks to consider the recommendations and to arrive at an approved position.
The facility, now crowded by food huts and stalls, was prematurely put into operation prior to the change of Government while plans for its improvement were still on the drawing board by personnel from the Departments of Infrastructure, Health Protection and Agriculture. Since then, there have been a number of complaints about its operations and aesthetics, including oddly-placed portable toilets and a lack of running water. Loud music, posing a nuisance to the nearby St. Mary’s Anglican Church, has also been a notable complaint.
Despite all the above, the Food Court is heavily patronised and an alternative to a string of restaurants in the vicinity.
