Since most of us “know ourselves” (well, at least for the past ten or fifteen years) we have been hearing about something called the “Valley Development Plan”. Not only this Government but previous ones have touted a sweeping and ambitious plan to transform the capital into a magnificent metropolis, with wide tree-lined boulevards, sidewalks everywhere, proper drainage, designated open spaces and the potential for future orderly and logical development.

However, over the years there has been little evidence that this plan is being given any priority. The Valley has remained sadly neglected and underdeveloped, certainly as compared to the capitals of many of our Caribbean neighbours. For example, I have often wondered why the streets in The Valley have not been re-paved, while those in other parts of the island have been upgraded for years now.
I was therefore glad to read in The Anguillian that at long last some action will be taken. It seems that a street development plan for The Valley is being implemented, along with plans for a grand new Government Administration Building. Both are long overdue and will undoubtedly go some way towards giving a facelift to our capital.
But the proposed improvements fall well short of what is required at this stage. There is no mention of a comprehensive master plan that takes account of the overall long-term physical development of The Valley, along with planning to ensure that it functions as the business and commercial hub of the island. In the same way that the West End now functions as the breadbasket of the nation, The Valley should be the engine that drives and stimulates the economy island-wide. As usual, we seem to be doing things in a fragmented way, with little cohesion and no thought being put into the big picture.
I want us to conduct a little experiment, one that I sometimes carry out myself. Next time you drive or walk in The Valley, try to see it through the eyes of someone who is visiting Anguilla for the very first time. Because we live here, we tend to be blind to the many blemishes that afflict our capital – the uneven and bumpy streets, the overgrown areas of bush, the dire lack of sidewalks and streetlights, and the architecturally bland buildings. While it has a certain rugged charm, we have to admit that The Valley is not a pretty place. It functions but there is none of the aesthetic attraction and character that one associates with the “showpiece of the nation.”
My vision is of a bustling capital, with a well-designed street network, designated areas for business development and provision for spacious parks and other “green” spaces, such as botanical gardens. Sidewalks, street lighting, proper drainage and provision for adequate parking must be catered for. Sports and other recreational and cultural facilities must be provided and properly maintained.
It must be a capital which is congestion free, as a result of traffic control consisting of traffic lights, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings where necessary. We have all noticed that driving in The Valley is slowly becoming more and more burdensome. No apparent thought has gone into traffic management. A gross example is the junction opposite the Post Office and Social Security, where a dozen near misses occur on a daily basis and only the patience and courtesy of drivers allows traffic to flow. Something drastic needs to be done and soon.
The non-development of the open spaces in The Valley is a major factor in its retarded development. Some will disagree with me, but genuine business development will be stifled as long as we insist on having huge tracts of agricultural land in the centre of town. I am not advocating a concrete jungle with little or no greenery. While some of the open land should indeed be set aside for parks and recreational areas, the rest should be made available for entrepreneurs and other developments. It is now virtually impossible to find a location in The Valley to establish a professional building, unless one is willing to pay hugely exorbitant prices for small lots in less than ideal locations.
I am speaking in particular of the Government-owned land stretching from west of the Anglican Church to Ashley’s Supermarket. Like many Anguillians, I would be very interested to know of the long term plans for this area. It should not be indefinitely designated for purely agricultural use, but should be developed in a logical manner, to keep pace with the needs of a growing capital. Surely a portion of it can be set aside to create an area where new businesses can spring up, and where new streets, squares and landmark buildings can contribute to the beauty of the capital.
I don’t know if there is a qualified Urban Planner employed by Government, but this expertise will be sorely needed as we move forward over the next several years with the “Valley Development Plan”. The town is beginning to grow outwards, both to the east and to the west, so plans must cater for the development of these “suburbs”. The complex interactions of commercial development, road networks, residential areas and environmentally friendly “green spots” must be considered.
It is not enough to just have paved roads and a showpiece Government building. Let us create a showpiece capital, one that we can all be proud of and that will be an example to the rest of the Caribbean. We have flat land in abundance and are unimpeded by mountains or gullies. The sky should be the limit and only our imaginations should restrain us in building the most magnificent capital city in the region.
Alex Richardson is Managing Partner of the law firm Alex Richardson & Associates, P O Box 371, The Babrow Building, The Valley, Anguilla, Tel: 264 498 4224, Fax: 264 498 4220, email: arichardson@anguillanet.com. He is also Managing Director of Paragon Corporate Services Ltd.

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