Bush overgrowth blocks road in Lucea

Christopher Bodden, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Residents of Haughton Gardens in Lucea are calling on the Hanover Parish Council to urgently address the overgrowth of bushes along section of the roadways in the area, particularly in the vicinity of Willow Drive.

"It's not safe here," one resident, Ansel Brown, told Western Focus. "The council needs to do something quickly. They take so long to cut the bushes that residents have to cut them."

During a visit to the community, another resident, Michael Cockburne, showed Western Focus a huge mound of dirt which had been washed into the roadway as a result of hillside erosion. He said the dirt had provided a rich medium for the bushes to thrive and encroached on road space.

"If one should drive through there, the bushes would be touching both sides of the vehicle. The parish council and the councillor need to do something. Where is the councillor? He is doing nothing! Look at the condition of the road in the parish capital!" Cockburne fumed.

When contacted, councillor of the Lucea Division, Neville Clare, told Western Focus that the area had been bushed "some time ago, but due to the frequent rains, the growth of the bushes increased".

"When I go to council, I will look into the matter," he said.