Hanover Chamber calls for traffic lights at Grand Palladium’s entrance

Western Bureau:

Reacting to the spate of traffic accidents near the Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts – widely regarded as an accident blackspot – the Hanover Chamber of Commerce is calling for the installation of traffic lights in the area, in the hope of curbing the growing number of fatal and non-fatal crashes.

Shermaine Anderson-Gayle, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, told last week’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) that urgent action is needed to address what has long been a source of concern.

“Grand Palladium is one of our largest economic drivers within the parish, and we have been facing difficulties in entering and exiting the property safely,” she said. “We have thousands of guests, we have pedestrians, we have the workers, we have tour operators and others who are going back and forth between the hotel property and the roadway.

“We believe that a proper installation of traffic lights at the entrance to the hotel would improve the safety of persons within the area and show that we are serious about developing and ensuring that economic drivers are protected within the space,” she added.

“So we, the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, are respectfully requesting that the HMC engage, particularly, the National Works Agency (NWA) in assessing the situation, and installing a traffic light at the location,” she continued.

Anderson-Gayle noted that her organisation remains open to collaboration and will continue to support the HMC in any initiative aimed at developing the parish.

Lucea’s Mayor Sheridan Samuels, who also chairs the HMC, said the corporation shares the chamber’s concern about improving safety in the area. He remarked that repeated requests for the installation of rumble strips along the roadway have so far been unsuccessful.

“So, I would want the municipal corporation to write to the National Works Agency (NWA) again, or any other agency that would have anything to do with the placement of this traffic light,” said Samuels. “It is dangerous coming out of Grand Palladium. The police need to play a role in this matter, also.”

Councillor Marvel Sewell, who represents the Green Island Division, pointed out that the Princess Hotel – located in his division – had played a key role in securing two sets of traffic lights near its entrance and at the gate of the nearby Green Island High School.

Sewell is calling for an approach to be made to the management of the Grand Palladium to begin discussions on a possible collaboration with the NWA to have traffic lights installed at the entrance to that property.

Following Sewell’s recommendation, a motion was tabled and approved at the meeting, calling for the HMC to write to all relevant parties, including the hotel and the NWA, to begin discussions on the matter as soon as possible.

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