User fees for parks, swimming pools on cards
Manama : The authorities may soon slap an entry tariff for using facilities at public parks and swimming pools as three municipalities in the Kingdom have recommended a user fee.
Councillors of Capital General Secretariat, Muharraq and Southern Area are the municipalities recommended to impose entry fee for using facilities at public parks and water springs.
According to sources, the Capital General Secretariat has recommended BD0.500 (500 fils) fee for entering Athari water spring and BD0.300 (300 fils) for Um Sha’oom.
The move is aimed at curbing the increasing vandalism at public parks and reduce the high maintenance cost, sources said.
“We received a petition from a large number of citizens who live near Khalifa Al Kubra Garden in Riffa complaining about anti-social behaviour in parks,” said Southern Area Municipal Council Chairman Ahmed Al Ansari, adding the matter has been referred to the Municipality.
“The General Director Assim Abdulatif has informed us that the garden’s annual maintenance cost has crossed BD200,000. Additionally, the municipality is facing several accidents on a daily basis,” Al Ansari said, referring to the fights caused by teenagers at the garden and the need to slap a fine.
“To maintain the gains of our Kingdom, we are recommending imposing a trifle amount as entry fee that won’t really affect the maintenance budget, but will limit the number of visitors,” he added. As for the second biggest island in the country, Muharraq Municipal Council Chairman Mohammed Al Sinan stated that the council has decided to privatise public parks to reduce the increasing vandalism at these facilities.
“Many of the visitors to the parks are vandalising the facilities such as toilets, plants and playgrounds. The fee would be a strong measure to prevent these anti-social practices. Imposing the fees would protect the gardens,” Al Sinan confirmed.
“We are seeking the reduction of the number of visitors to swimming pools as these facilities could accommodate only limited number of people. An entry fee could control the rush and cover some of the maintenance fees at these two places,” said Mazin Al Omran, referring to Athari and Um Sha’oom water springs.
These recommendations, however, await the approval of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf. It’s believed that they would reduce the increasing maintenance expenses at public parks that are born by the ministry.
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