The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE government has announced a four-month closure of Fort Fincastle to facilitate repairs to the water tower, forcing straw vendors at the historic site to temporarily relocate to Fort Charlotte.

Officials from the Antiquities, Monuments, and Museums Corporation (AMMC) said the closure is necessary to allow contractors unrestricted access to the site. The renovation, set to begin on March 15, was initially expected to be completed by February 2025 but has been delayed due to construction interruptions.

The $3 million contract awarded to SJK Construction in May 2024 includes interior and exterior restoration work to address structural concerns at the long-inactive Water Tower. AMMC Director Don Cornish said that while interior renovations had been completed with minimal disruption, exterior repairs now pose greater risks, making it impossible for vendors to remain on-site.

“There’s a column of about three square meters that has started to really become an issue of concern,” Mr Cornish said. He added that the height of the tower and uncertainty about how debris would fall made it too dangerous for vendors to stay.

Vendors will be relocated to Fort Charlotte, another historic site that has been undergoing changes. Executive Chairman of the Straw Market Authority Robert Lightbourne defended the move, describing it as a necessary step toward long-term improvements.

“We want to give access — full, complete access — to that area so that they will deliver for us what we want, what we need,” Mr Lightbourne said.

Officials have assured vendors that Fort Charlotte will be promoted as an alternative site to maintain their income, though some remain unconvinced. Mr Cornish acknowledged that discussions with vendors were ongoing and that the relocation decision was made in consultation with stakeholders.

“The corporation considers this a major adjustment, and we are cognizant of their contributions to the quality of the experience they offer our guests,” he said.

Officials did not provide an engineering report or structural assessment, but Mr Cornish said the decision was based on the risk of serious injury or death if vendors remained at the site during repairs.

“The technical people were warning us for some time about the dangers, and the challenge we always had was what was the best safe space in that area,” he said.

Mr Cornish also noted that he had been asked to explore restoring all 42 vendor stalls at Fort Fincastle within the next four months.

With the project already delayed past its original timeline, vendors now face at least four months of uncertainty as they adjust to a new location. Mr Lightbourne urged vendors to cooperate with the transition, saying that while challenges remain, the project’s long-term benefits outweigh the temporary disruption.

“For any system to work to the satisfaction of everybody, it requires full cooperation,” he said. “We never get that, but we encourage it.”