Safety at Balfour Garden: Users Sound the Alarm

Users of Balfour Garden, located in Rose Hill, are raising concerns over what they deem to be a troubling situation regarding public safety, particularly for children.

According to gathered testimonies, a section of the slab bordering the canal has collapsed, while the adjacent safety fence is severely damaged. Large openings are visible, making access dangerous, especially for young children who frequently visit the park. To mitigate risks, temporary solutions have been implemented, including a piece of wood and a stone, but these measures are vastly inadequate.

With school holidays underway, Balfour Garden is experiencing an increased influx of families and children. Many users believe that the current state of the infrastructure could lead to an accident at any moment. They are calling on authorities to secure the area as soon as possible.

In an appearance on the show 'Explik Ou Ka' on Radio Plus, Gabriella Batour, mayor of Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill, assures that the situation is already being addressed. She confirms that a municipal team is on-site to replace the damaged slabs and repair the broken fences.

She notes that during holiday periods, the city's green spaces are particularly crowded, which reinforces the need for constant and thorough maintenance. Regarding the presence of stray dogs in the garden, Gabriella Batour states that the municipality is working closely with the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare on a project for the care and relocation of animals. She further specifies that these interventions are not limited to Balfour Garden but are part of a broader initiative targeting all green spaces in Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill. Municipal teams are currently conducting on-site evaluations to determine the necessary work.

The mayor also encourages residents to notify the municipality of any risky situations to enable a swift response from the relevant departments.