The UBP is calling on Government to reconsider building a bus depot in a residential area of St. David?s.

Opposition MP Suzanne Holshouser yesterday addressed Parliament on the issue which affects about 150 residents in the Southside Housing Development.

Mrs. Holshouser said the Public Transport Board has been working diligently over the past few years to encourage the Department of Works and Engineering, together with the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) to build a ?spur road? to allow for proper bus service in St. David?s which, she said, is badly needed.

But rather than building the spur road St. David?s Islanders have requested, Mrs. Holshouser said Works and Engineering is now considering moving the bus depot currently located in St. George?s to St. David?s

She said the community was allocated a lot of land in last year?s budget for a community centre.

?The land would be allocated and it would be up to the community to build the community centre, but that never actually came to fruition. While the land was allocated, the building never got built,? Mrs. Holshouser said.

Recently, however, the BLDC allocated another building to house the community centre, which pleased the community.

?That was awesome and desperately needed in St. David?s for our youngsters,? Mrs. Holshouser said.

But the original plot of land designated for the community centre has now been earmarked for a bus terminal and area residents are concerned that it is located too close to places where children play.

Yesterday, Mrs. Holshouser said she was speaking on behalf of the people of St. David?s and asking that Works and Engineering re-think this proposal.

?The intent is to remove the bus depot from the St. George?s, where it currently is housed, into St. David?s,? she said. ?It?s understood that these plans are currently sitting on the desk of Works and Engineering for approval.

?We would rather something be done in advance rather than after the fact.?

Mrs. Holshouser added that it would be beneficial for the Ministry to hear what the community had to say before making a decision.

She said there are 22 houses in the area being considered for the bus terminal.

?If there are three people living in each of those houses and they have children, we?re looking at about 159 people in that small area,? she said.

She added the proposed location for the new depot is right across from Orange Hole where they?re building three more condos.

?I implore this Government, specifically the Minister of Works and Engineering, while he has these plans on his desk, to consider, or reconsider, the fact that a bus depot does not need to be located in St. David?s,? she said.

?It is not in a residential area where it is right now in St. George?s. To move it into a residential area where children play, can pose potential hazards to these children.?

Mrs. Holshouser added that people in St. David?s did not see a reason why the bus depot needs to be moved into their backyard.

?We don?t even have a proper bus service,? she said.

?If I dare be so bold to say, on behalf of the people of St. David?s... give us a spur so that we can have improved bussing, but keep the bus depot where it is because there are no problems where it is located.?