A number of locations with cultural significance in Kingston and St Andrew are to be recognised as designated heritage spots.

This initiative is spearheaded by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.

Come October 21, the building which housed the Turntable Club along Red Hills Road in St Andrew, will be the first site recognised with a plaque.The location, housed the popular nightclub for over three decades.

The Turntable Club was one of many party spots along Red Hills Road during the 1970s. It continued to draw lovers of reggae and soul music up until the early 2000s when the Blake brothers of Merritone fame ceased playing there.

Councillor for the Whitehall Division Lee Clarke said it is time Jamaicans take note of our their heritage.

“The first thing we must do is get our heritage sites up and running. If you travel to the Spanish-speaking countries, that’s where they make their money. Some old house with a mento band, a corner or something. I took it on myself that I’m going to look around the city and identify some sites. These include Bedward Yard in August Town and the old Railway Station in downtown Kingston — different areas which will appeal to different people. But I’m starting with the Merritone lot on Red Hills Road,” he told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.

The October 21 ceremony will also see a number of secondary roads and paths in the Park Lane area being named after artistes and musicians who were born there. Park Lane is close to the Turntable Club.

“Park Lane is the only lane in the country where 11 artistes were born and raised in a single lane. They used to be mentored by Winston (Blake). So we are going to name the off streets, including short pathways, to those artistes which include Fabby Dolly, Flourgon, and Sanchez. So we are killing two birds with one stone. We need the cooperation of all these persons to talk to people in their community, and we hope this will help keep crime down in the area,” said Clarke.