Minister of Public Works Michael Weeks has hit back at claims by the Opposition that Pembroke Marsh has been neglected, saying remediation work there is ongoing.Scott Stewart, the One Bermuda Alliance candidate for Pembroke East, made the claim in a Letter to the Editor printed in this newspaper on October 20.He wrote: “The Pembroke Marsh has been neglected by the Government in spite of the fact it is one of the most densely populated areas of Bermuda.“The horticultural waste is an irritant to the neighbours and, more importantly, a safety hazard due to fire.“It shames the PLP to represent the five surrounding constituencies, yet nothing has been done to alleviate the people’s suffering.“The neglect has infected the psyche of many residents who are now cynical and frustrated.“The OBA is committed to remediating and re-imagining the Pembroke Marsh to create a safe, useful amenity to the community.“In the long-term, real jobs will be created for Bermudians in science, planning, horticulture and construction to build pride in the heart of our community and city.”However, Mr Weeks issued a statement saying a three-year programme has been launched to restore the 19-acre marsh, which is Bermuda’s largest peat bog and an internationally-important wetland.“It is important, not only as the largest remaining open water freshwater marsh, supporting resident and wintering water birds, but also as a sump and holding area for storm water runoff from the nearby City of Hamilton to prevent flash flooding and as a natural filter and settling pond for polluted leachate from the former dump,” he said.The marsh is to be restored as the first part of an area to be known as Pembroke Park.“Spearheaded by the Department of Conservation Services and the Solid Waste Section, the Ministry of Public Works has embarked on a three-year phased programme to restore the marsh as not only a critical sanctuary for water birds and as beautiful green lung for local residents, but to improve its function as a natural water purifier for the adjacent composting facility and as a storm water sump to help reduce flooding of the Pembroke Canal downstream,” said the Minister.“The periphery of the marsh will be redesigned with new dykes and a sluice to better contain storm water and address occasional flooding caused by storm water runoff.“These will be topped with a series of walking trails and foot bridges to allow public access around the marsh, but that will not disturb the wildlife.“The interior of the marsh will be dredged of invasive plants to create islands which will be restored to their natural state with marsh-loving native and endemic plants.”Mr Weeks added: “The Ministry would like to stress that all of these works will be constantly monitored for any possible harm to the environment.”He said phase one of the restoration began in the early summer, with work ongoing to clear the invasive plants clogging the shallow water areas of the marsh along the south, west and northern boundaries.The prison day release programme may eventually be used to boost the number of workers helping to clear the site before phase two, the infrastructure design, begins.“This ambitious restoration project illustrates this Government’s continued commitment to its pledge to preserve Bermuda’s natural heritage for future generations; setting aside and improving threatened habitat for not only Bermuda’s unique wildlife but also for the social well-being of our people,” he added.