Fix it now! St Mary residents want bridge repaired

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

BROMLEY, St Mary:

A BRIDGE, even a Bailey bridge to replace the Westmoreland Bridge, which was destroyed in heavy rains some five years ago, is all the people of Bromley, Coffee Piece, Lewis Store, Cromwell Land, and adjoining communities in St Mary want.

The alternative routes are in deplorable conditions, much longer, and the journey more costly, now making a simple thing as getting to and from work a major task.

"The thing paralyse the whole community," an angry Alston Shaw said as he summed up the impact of the road closure.

"Me want them fix it right now! Them just a build up and a build up our hopes," adds Millicent Anderson.

Much of this anger is directed at Tarn Peralto, member of parliament for South East St Mary, who, residents say, has failed to communicate to them plans for a replacement bridge.

At mid-morning on a Tuesday, Anderson and Shaw are seated in front of a closed building where she once operated a thriving grocery bar, which was well supported by people passing through the community.

The building, located in Bromley, sits on the spot where a Mr Lewis once operated a store, leading to the place being called Lewis Store. They remember well when the traffic flowed, bringing people and business from both directions daily. For residents of Bromley and neighbouring communities, those were indeed the good old days, although they did not realise it at the time.