A Japanese garden that was built by a Bahrain resident more than 30 years ago could soon be demolished by authorities to make way for a new public park.

Briton Steve Vlajic told the GDN he was being forced to remove more than 200 trees and plants in the 300sqm traditional garden in Hajjiyat, which has cost him tens of thousands of dinars, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The 64-year-old claimed the former Central Municipality granted him the plot, but he has no documents to prove that and has repeatedly received warning letters to vacate the grounds.

He also alleged that former Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi promised to save his garden by building the planned park around it, which has been denied by officials.

"The former office of the ministry drew a new plan and an official told me, in September, that they are going to integrate my garden in the new park," he told the GDN yesterday.

"However, on Monday I found a paper on my door saying I have to vacate the grounds and when I went to the former Central Municipality building they told me I have to remove all the plants despite telling them about the ministry's promise.

"The park has always been open to area residents from 7am to 7pm and many people visit it everyday.

"It has beautiful trees and plants that I have been planting and nursing for years and it is a good place for families to spend their day.

"I have also spent thousands of dinars throughout the years to build the garden.

"Now that I am being forced to remove the plants, I am going to invite the Bahrain Garden Club and all the people of Bahrain to come over and take the plants for free or else I won't find a place for them."

The land has been earmarked for a 3,000sqm park that includes a football field and a children's play area, said Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry engineer Lamya Al Fadhala.

She told the GDN that Vlajic had violated municipal regulations and did not have any official document to prove the former minister's alleged promise to save his garden.

"It is needless to say that his situation is illegal as he doesn't have an ownership contract or a rental contract or even an investment contract that proves he can use this plot of land," she said.

"He has fenced the garden with bricks and cement and does not allow people in when it is a public land - not to mention that he plants vegetables and fruits for his personal use.

"The project has been tendered and a company is responsible for the project's execution, so how can he think that we will put his benefit before the public's benefit?

"This delay in removing the garden can result in hindering the project that will benefit area residents and specifically the young, whom I always say are the cornerstone of society."

The GDN earlier reported that Mr Vlajic feared the ‘unfair’ eviction would destroy hundreds of trees planted in the garden. - TradeArabia News Service