Overgrown verges on Oscar Borchers pose imminent threat
Residents too are at a loss, not knowing how much longer they will have to wait for these roads to be tended to.
The issue of overgrown verges along the South Coast is still at hand, especially along Oscar Borchers and Sugar Mill roads.
Countless accidents have occurred on these roads, and the threat of more looms as they are not properly maintained.
These roads fall under the Department of Transport (DOT) which at this stage has not yet responded to The Herald’s query.
“Previously when the municipality handled the maintenance of these roads, we experienced no issues,” said Ward 17 councillor, Ajith Rajaram.
Cllr Rajaram met with the DOT late last year during an onsite visit, where he brought up the issues of poor drainage, missing barriers, unstable railings and the overgrown verges.
During a telephonic conversation with the department last month, he was told that the issue should be attended to by the end of March.
“We as councillors are constantly fighting for service delivery from different departments and government offices, where people are deployed in positions they cannot manage,” said Cllr Rajaram.
Residents too are at a loss, not knowing how much longer they will have to wait for these roads to be tended to.
“School children and pedestrians walk those roads daily, are we waiting for someone to be killed until something is done?” said a frustrated resident.
The road signs are not visible, lanes are narrowed due to the overgrowth, pavements are not accessible and in some places the railings are missing. In one area of the road near 3rd Avenue, the road is beginning to wash away.
These overgrown verges stretch all the way up Sugar Mill Road and pedestrians are often seen walking in the vehicle lanes as there is nowhere else to walk.
Ward 12 councillor, Leon Garbade also shared his dissatisfaction with the unacceptable state of these roads, which includes the stretch from Sugar Mill Road through to Spillers Wharf.
He highlighted that one of the biggest issues is at the intersection of Pelican, Albersville and Oscar Borchers.
“The verges are so overgrown that it is almost impossible to see vehicles approaching from the Sugar Mill side, on the top of a blind rise. This is a very busy intersection as it serves as a gateway to Albersville as well as Protea Park,” explained Cllr Garbade.
Furthermore, residents who live alongside the Spillers section of the road cannot see vehicles approaching as they attempt to exit their properties.
“Report after report is sent to the provincial DOT and cutting takes place only from time to time. We call upon the DOT to institute a regular cut along the entire length of this road, at least twice a month in the summer and once a month in winter,” said Cllr Garbade.
He further requested that a strong initial cutback be undertaken as what was done previously is not cut back far enough, and soon thereafter the verges return to its ‘normal’ overgrown state.
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