What's not working?

Ayishire Avenue off Waltham Park Road in the Kingston 10 region is a disgrace. Potholes and craters are having a field day on the roadway. And, from the looks of it, their legion is growing. Residents say they are fed up with the local authority's tardiness in addressing the issue, which continues to be a pain in the neck and pocket as well.

Synopsis of situation:

For Merlene Wright, contending with the Ayishire Avenue discomfort for almost two decades has finally reached the cut-off point. Wright, who has lived there for more than 40 years, believes that a facelift is well overdue.

"It is full time the authorities fix the road now; it has been in a bad state for far too long and I'm tired of always having to repair front-end parts and so forth because of the road," she bemoaned.

"We also need a road sign to be put up as well, but that's the least. The real matter is getting the road fixed because it's terrible and even worse when it rains."

She added that during heavy rainfall, sections of the road are rendered impassable

and pedestrians have to watch their step as one miscalculated move could be harmful.

Maxine Finegan, another resident, also voiced her disgust with the state of the road. Finegan blasted the local authority for shunning its responsibility. She noted that residents had already spoken with the relevant agency about the need for the road to be repaired. However, other than the promise of 'looking into the matter', real work is yet to begin.

Who's responsible?

The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

What's the status?

A representative from the KSAC's Roads and Works Department confirmed that the parish council was responsible for the upkeep of Ayishire Avenue. The representative said he was unaware of any plans in the pipeline to restore the thoroughfare. Attempts to contact Delroy Hall, superintendent of roads and works, and Norman Shand, city engineer, were unsuccessful.

Conclusion:

Without jumping to hasty conclusions, it would not have been surprising for the parish council officials to deliver the stock response: 'We are aware of the situation but are awaiting the available funds to address it.'

But this scratched-record excuse just won't cut it. Shame on the parish council and Central Government as well, which is responsible for the councils' 'wait'. The long and short of the matter is that neither Central Government nor parish councils are doing enough to effect road repairs islandwide.

Highways aside, the state of the nation's road network is nothing to write home about.

Hence, both arms of Government must step up their game to make up for the years of negligence that characterise their leadership.

We are still watching.

- Done by Marlon Vickerman, Freelance Writer

Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Residents walk along pothole-riddled Ayishire Avenue, a road where, perhaps, even angels fear to tread.

Ayishire Avenue, off Waltham Park Road in Kingston, is a hellish hodgepodge of holes.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action. Write to: Tyrone Reid, the Gleaner Company Ltd., 7 North Street, Kingston; Fax: 922-6223, Telephone: 922-3400 Ext. 6364 or Email: tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com