Linden municipality moves closer to implementation of building by-laws

The municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is moving closer towards the implementation of its building by-laws, which will regulate the construction of all buildings within the town of Linden.
Linden Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller has stated that the laws have been posted for residents to peruse and make their claims and objections to the clauses before it can be sent to be approved. The move towards the implementation of the building by-laws, according to officials, will see safer monitoring of the construction of buildings within the community.
“The building by-laws are there so we can regularise how the structures of buildings are done…should be done, how you manage your building waste and so on,” the Town Clerk noted.
She added that it will also address the issue of illegal construction or persons who are doing construction works without the municipality’s approval as well as provide grounds for persons to be taken to court for rates and taxes.
Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell said once the by-laws get on stream it will provide guidelines on how buildings should be constructed.
“We were able to sit down and put it together and see how we could use it in Linden. I know Georgetown has the building by-law and some of the older municipalities. So it’s just taking it and coining it to Linden…Once that by-law is passed then, of course, we would be able to implement the laws that governs that in terms of how people are building and the haphazard ways in which they are building,” she stated.
The implementation of the by-laws is expected to see the Council having a more hands-on approach on ensuring buildings are constructed according to specification. Arrindell has re-emphasised that no structure in the community should be erected without the knowledge of the Council even if it’s being constructed in residents’ backyards. She alluded that many residents are currently engaged in poultry farming in their yards without proper drainage systems in place. Even these types of construction, the Mayor noted, should be first approved by the Council so as to ascertain the best place for construction.
“What the public doesn’t know is that once your building is passed here, before you go and put down your foundation, you need to notify us so we’ll be there at the initial stages to ensure that it’s built to specification. That doesn’t happen at this time so once it’s passed then we’ll be able to monitor what’s happening,” the Mayor said.
The by-laws have been placed at various points across Linden for residents to peruse including the hospitals, post offices and the Linden Enterprise Network at Mackenzie. Residents are encouraged to visit the Council to make their claims and objections following perusal.