The residents of Hamad Town in Bahrain could soon have much needed markets and services outlets on empty plots of land in surrounding areas.

The Northern Municipal Council has accepted a request from residents for the plots of land to be utilised for services instead of government housing projects already in the pipeline.

Residents are complaining that the town is getting crowded without any consideration for the facilities and services required.

Area councillor Jaffar Shaaban said that he had already found the first plot of land that could accommodate markets and services outlets.

He has asked the council to send the proposal to the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry.

Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi will also send the councillors request to the Housing Ministry and await their decision on halting construction of government homes to be replaced with other facilities.

The Housing Ministry's consent will also be needed for the proposed plot of land for services.

Other plots of land submitted for similar purposes in the future will also require the ministry's approval.

Council services and public utilities committee chairman Jassim Al Mahdi said that more homes were being built without markets and services outlets being built to meet demand.

"Residents are being forced to go either to a shopping centre in Roundabout 10, the Waqf Market in Roundabout One or visit the Reef Mall in Saddad," he said.

"For such huge area with a large population more facilities are needed than homes.

"We just want the Housing Ministry to revise its construction policies of new government homes and rather focus on providing facilities to existing families who are facing a hassle getting their needs with ease.

"The council has come up with a suggestion for a Housing Ministry plot of land that could be used for services and it could be used as a model project, considering that there are other plots of land that we want also transferred into markets and services outlets."

Al Mahdi said that the number of houses was not in line with the services being offered in Hamad Town.

"We are not completely against having government homes in Hamad Town in the future, but it has to be done in a balanced manner," he said.

"The council in fact wants around 150 homes to be built on a land owned by the Royal Court and we are working very hard to get the required deeds transferred to the Housing Ministry.

"It is always the duty of the ministries concerned to help solve a problem that has been ongoing for the past 25 years since the town has been established and the government built one housing project after another without considering residents needs then or in the future. It is time for a change now," he added.-TradeArabia News Service