By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A scrap metal yard proprietor, who says his business has operated without incident for 40 years, yesterday argued the Government should not adopt a blanket, one-size-fits-all approach to relocating such operations.

Gevon Fisher, owner of G & G Scrap Metal, said a relocation plan for roadside garages and businesses such as his should consider the safety risk each one poses to the communities in which they are based. He added that his garage poses a low risk to surrounding residents and businesses as he only stores metals and car parts, which are less combustible than garages that house derelict vehicles.

“I don’t classify scrap garages and roadside garages as the same thing. I deal with stuff that is not as hazardous or flammable. Stuff that people take from cars, like the harness wires, the batteries, starters, motors, alternators, transmission, engines, aluminum, brass, that sort of stuff,” said Mr Fisher.

“I inherited this business, from my father. He was doing it over 40 years and it’s been five years since I took over. We never had that sort of problems.”

Mr Fisher said his garage has adequate safety measures in place in case of an accident, as do other scrap metal businesses and roadside garages, so an assessment should be done to determine which need to be relocated to ensure the safety of the community and those that can continue in their current location.

“You never know what could happen, but we have our safety measures in place and we’ve never had an incident. We have fire extinguishers; we have water hoses and we make sure there’s enough safety in place for the work that we do,” said Mr Fisher.

“I know of a couple companies that deal with scrapped cars daily, but I feel like they have it under control because of the area they are in and what they have in place. There are also some places that are a risk to neighbours because of the location and the flammable items they are working with. So there has to be a risk assessment of each business to see how they are impacting the community and if they should relocate.”

Mr Fisher explained that scrap metal businesses also provide a public service by recycling items that would otherwise have been discarded at the landfill. Their relocation could deter residents from recycling unwanted items and isolate garage operators from their client base.

“This field of business, we call it scrap metal, but it’s more like recycling. People bring us stuff from their homes or vehicles that they don’t need and I get those things to people who can use them. We serve the people in our community and not all of them are willing to drive out to a designated area,” said Mr Fisher.

“We deal with businesses, too, when they want to change windows or get rid of stuff. Even the hotels, when they are demolishing or renovating and they come to us, all these things don’t end up in a landfill.”

Clay Sweeting, minister of works and Family Island affairs, said the Government has identified Crown land to relocate roadside garages around New Providence.

He said an inter-ministerial committee, formed by the Prime Minister, is in talks with businesses to develop a relocation plan that works for all parties and officials will prioritise discussions with the largest operations first, acknowledging that the issue involves “a lot of moving parts”.

Mr Sweeting said the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) is assessing the feasibility of the proposed site, emphasising that the Government must ensure the move does not create new problems down the line. He said the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs, and the Prime Minister’s Office are all involved in the relocation effort.

For years, residents have complained about the unchecked spread of roadside garages, citing environmental hazards, derelict vehicles and fumes affecting nearby homes. However, despite their frustration, enforcement has been absent, and the problem has only worsened.

The issue came to the forefront again this month when a fire destroyed Honda Plus, a vehicle storage and car parts business located along the main road in the Victoria Gardens subdivision, next door to Mr Fisher’s business.

Last year, a fire erupted at CRT Enterprises, a scrap metal yard on Joe Farrington Road, setting derelict vehicles ablaze and damaging a nearby crane rental company and the roof of Rubis gas station. The fire continued smouldering for days after it was contained.