SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland:

A new municipal building for the Westmoreland Parish Council is still no closer to fruition.

During the monthly meeting of the council on Thursday, Alton Esmie, superintendent of roads and works, requested relief from some of his duties for the next three weeks to complete the building's design.

According to Bertel Moore, chairman of the council and mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, the building should be so designed to accommodate other non-council offices as a way of generating income for the council.

The mayor went on to explain to The Gleaner that there was an initial design which was inadequate as some of the necessary facilities were not included. Esmie was asked to come up with a new updated design.

According to the mayor, the two-floor structure being considered is estimated to cost no less than $100 million, 20 more than the original projection.

Funding has still not been secured but, according to Moore, aid should come from the Department of Local Government and the sales of land, in Negril.

Parliament will have to approve the sale of the land, but Moore says he is optimistic the council will be given the go-ahead.

It is still not known when ground will be broken for the project but the building is expected to be situated on one and a half acres of land on Chantilly Road at Dunbar's River in Savanna-la-Mar.

- Dalton Laing