St Bess principal appeals for quick fix to breakaway near school
Published:Tuesday | November 19, 2024 | 12:06 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
A nearby breakaway that has reduced traffic to a single lane is posing a serious risk to students at Retirement Primary School in St Elizabeth.
Acting Principal Leon Chisholm voiced concern in an interview with The Gleaner last Thursday.
He said that the majority of students, whose ages range from five to 13 years, walk to and from school daily.
“It’s kind of difficult for them, especially when they are walking in the morning along with the traffic that is traversing the pathway, and usually, persons are driving rather quickly, so it is not safe for them,” Chisholm said.
He is worried that an accident could occur if the partially collapsed roadway, located just 200 metres from the school entrance, is not repaired soon.
“You know children. Instead of moving away from danger, they tend to move towards it, so, of course, we are fearful that something might happen because it’s ... on a hillside. If somebody falls over, then there’s quite a bit of down that they’re going to [experience], so, of course, we wouldn’t want that to be there for any longer period because they’re small children,” he said.
The breakaway, which occurred around two weeks ago, has also made the road hazardous for motorists.
Chisholm expressed fear that there could be further land slippage if immediate action is not taken to address the issue. He theorised that further collapse is likely because of the area’s porous soil and the lack of sufficient rocks to support the roadway, which has been loosened by heavy rainfall.
The acting principal also voiced concern for Maggotty High School students, who hail from the surrounding communities of Elderslie, Retirement, and Jointwood and who utilise the route as well.
“We would have had a breakaway in Elderslie some time ago, so we don’t want it to be the same thing – that it takes a whole lot of time for it to get fixed – because you want the students to be as safe as possible, especially the ones who have to actually walk,” he said.
Chisholm also appealed to drivers to reduce their speed when approaching the breakaway to ensure the safety of others.
“Take it easy. They are your children just as they are mine,” he said.
Up to press time last night, the National Works Agency had not responded to questions from The Gleaner about the breakaway, one of several to have occurred across the island in the last month.