PLP’s DeSilva calls for action over deadly junction
Drivers at the junction of Camp Hill Road and Middle Road, Southampton are “taking their lives into their hands”, according to area MP Zane DeSilva — who called on Public Works to look into the intersection’s hazards “immediately”.
However, Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin last night chastised the Southampton East MP for failing to notify her of his announcement — telling The Royal Gazette that the junction was already being seen to by Government, in response to concerns about the road.
Flanked by residents, including the relative of a man who recently died in a crash along the Heron Bay stretch of road, Mr DeSilva yesterday called on Government to “rectify this dangerous area as quickly as possible, before another life is lost”.
“In the last two weeks, there have been two accidents which could have had the same tragic ending,” he said.
Neighbourhood residents Glenn Woods and Shawn Simons joined Mr DeSilva to show their support for amendments to the junction.
The Progressive Labour Party MP pointed specifically to the death of Shayne Adderley, whose motorcycle struck a taxi by the junction on October 8, 2011. Area residents know the spot as the foot of Camp Hill or “Camp Gate”, according to the victim’s uncle, Brownlow Adderley.
Mr DeSilva said signs and hedges that hampered the view of motorists leaving the businesses on the northern edge of the junction needed to be removed immediately. He said David Durham, owner of Just Entertainment, had already agreed to move his businesses’ sign.
Mr Durham last night confirmed he would relocate both the sign and some hedges near the road.
Mr DeSilva said Jeff Sousa of the One Bermuda Alliance, whose landscaping business adjoins the junction, should also take down roadside hedges on his property and replace them with a rock garden.
Installing traffic lights or speed cameras wasn’t out of the question, Mr DeSilva said. He called for Government engineers to examine the busy intersection.
Adding that he hadn’t approached Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin on the matter, Mr DeSilva said the Minister had “a track record of moving far too slowly and not listening to the people of Bermuda”.
He cited delays in placing a barrier across the nearby Tribe Road No. 1, and said there still hadn’t been action on additional rumble strips proposed for East Broadway.
“We also request the Government to approach the land owner of the property across the street to purchase or donate a portion of their land, so that a sidewalk can be constructed and therefore also improving the sight lines dramatically when exiting Camp Hill Road,” Mr DeSilva said, indicating the residence across from the eastern end of the businesses.
Ms Gordon-Pamplin said Mr DeSilva would have been told about “advanced improvement plans in place” if he had contacted the Ministry.
She added: “He would also be aware that MP Jeff Sousa has already raised the Camp Hill/Heron Bay issue to the attention of the Minister and key technical staff at the Ministry. We view this as a matter of urgency and I am pleased to note that the Ministry’s Chief Engineer and his team are working toward a resolution regarding this matter.
“Since coming to office, this Government has been working steadily to address infrastructure issues such as railings that have been left unattended countrywide yet we are now forced to examine safety issues that heretofore were neglected. We are doing the best to ensure the safety of all residents and will continue to do so for the better good of the community.”
Opposition MP Zane DeSilva was “making a mountain out of a molehill”, One Bermuda Alliance MP Jeff Sousa said last night, after shrubs in front of his business were faulted for contributing to a dangerous stretch of road by Heron Bay, Southampton.
Mr Sousa said he’d been contacted by Mr DeSilva a week ago on Sunday and had “immediately walked down to the area to see what he was talking about”.
“In my humble opinion, the plants that were planted on the Heron Bay Market Place property by one of our families businesses, Sousa’s Gardens, do not block someone’s sight as they look west coming out from the businesses in that area, as they are planted up off the road behind the sidewalk,” he said. “This work was done for free to beautify the area.”
Mr Sousa said he had told Mr DeSilva that if the plants were blocking the view, he would have them dealt with swiftly. He also said he’d offered to meet with Mr DeSilva but the offer hadn’t been accepted.
“I do agree with MP DeSilva that attention needs to be given to this intersection, as it is much busier today than it was in years gone by and there are far more businesses in the area,” he said.
“I am very familiar with the area as I have frequented it my entire life. At one time my uncle Benny Sousa owned that entire area so I know it well. This is something that I have said in letters to my constituents that I would like to see addressed, so certainly will follow up with the Minister responsible.”
Mr Sousa added: “What we need to do is tell our people to slow down, as speed in this area is one of the main reasons accidents have occurred in this particular area. I have personally seen accidents take place but in each case it was someone far exceeding the speed limit. As many would say, they were flying past with no concern for others whatsoever. Please, Bermuda — slow down.”
