Hardbargain bridge — a disaster waiting to happen

THE EDITOR: This letter is a plea from the residents of Sisters Road. Following is a copy of the letter that was sent to the Minister of Local Government, Jarette Narine, the CEO of the Princes Town Regional Corporation and to the Village Council.

Each letter was itself a petition accompanied by more than one hundred and seventy signatures. To date nothing has been done to alleviate our problem. The picture was taken around the same time, so you could just imagine the state of the bridge now. We are asking that if there is anything that you can do to help us, please make an attempt at it. Thanking you in advance.

Residents of 4th Company Village Road
Hardbargain

4th Company Village Road
Sisters’ Road, Hardbargain
November 21, 2002

Re: Bridge Repair

   Dear Sir/Madam
   For the past four and a half months there has been a ‘road closed’ sign at the entrance to our road. This sign was put there because the bridge has been in need of dire repairs for the last nine months. From that date to present time nothing has been done to repair the bridge. As a result, the bridge: has fallen below the level of the road; has developed rotten and rotting planks; has lost planks and now has wide holes and gaps in it and is presently resting over the river at a sloping angle. Every day school children and adults including the elderly have to use this bridge.

It is a hazard. It represents disaster waiting to happen. We are now in the middle of the rainy season and high water levels every other day is frequent. Do you want one of the many school children to fall through this bridge and into the fast moving water? There is also an absence of railings on this structure. In addition to being a threat to pedestrians, this bridge is preventing us from accessing important services. At present, we have: no garbage removal service; no gas deliveries; no access to emergency vehicles (EHS, Fire Service appliances) in case something went wrong and no department store deliveries. All we, the residents, are asking is that your organisation rectify this problem speedily. All our verbal complaints and concerns have been ignored and unresolved by the Princes Town Regional Corporation.

Yours Respectfully
RESIDENTS OF 4th COMPANY VILLAGE ROAD
HARDBARGAIN