DUNDONALD HILL is a place of contradictions.

Accessible either from Belle Vue off Long Circular Road or Patna Street in St James, the hill boasts million-dollar views – devalued by a harrowing reputation for gang violence.

It gets the name from British Admiral Thomas Cochrane, the 10th Earl of Dundonald, a British naval officer and politician, who is perhaps best known locally for purchasing all the land surrounding the pitch lake in La Brea as part of a unsuccessful commercial venture.

Dundonald Hill is mostly concealed from lower levels, surrounded by Bournes Road and its environs, Aboud Circular Road, Belle Vue and Dibe.

From the hill's midway point to its peak there are magnificently wide perspectives of Port of Spain and west Trinidad – views rivalled by the lookout on Lady Young Road and the hills of Laventille, but few other places. Visitors venturing towards the midway and upper parts of the hill can attest to the scenic brilliance on display, which is magnified at night when urban lights are switched on.

In addition to the stunning views, there is undeniable character about the people of Dundonald Hill and its neighbouring communities.

But residents and visitors no longer feel safe, as they did 20 years ago.

Few outsiders venture past the hill's midway point any longer, around Fort Dundonald Villas, often referred to as "The Condos." Fort Dundonald Villas is a largely middle-income community of50 units, constructed in the mid-80s. There is a small grassy area to the end with two old British cannons overlooking the city view. They were left there by the property's previous owner, whom residents remember only as Dr Jones. Before him, the small estate was owned by a man from Ireland, who also owned most of the surrounding land.

Before you reach the hill, there is a massive wall surrounding homes occupied by members of the Lebanese/Syrian community, built in 1944 as a community club, where sports and other activities took place.

There are some exceptionally attractive houses, but they are few and far between. Most are concrete structures, however, replacing the many wooden shacks built on the hill around the 1960s.

The roads are narrow and often need paving, and almost certainly not designed for the number of vehicles on it today. Some residents reach their homes through tracks, which are impossible to access by car. And some households have more than one car. Parking on the narrow road can cause traffic congestion. Occasionally, emergency vehicles like fire tenders face major delays or are simply unable to reach the scene of an incident, leading to devastating results.

[caption id="attachment_888663" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A scenic view from Dundonald Hill, St. James, shows Fort Dundonald Villas to the left and the city of Port of Spain in the background. - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

Much of it is undoubtedly down inadequate or a complete lack of planning. The hill and surrounding areas are dominated by structures situated in a way as to hamper proper infrastructural developm

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