Engineers to investigate 'dangerous' road

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16: A lack of parking at a popular Post Office could lead to a serious accident, a resident has warned.

Retired businessman Michael Marsh said that a combination of poor parking provision, speeding traffic and a sharp corner meant that the area was a high risk for collisions.

He has written to Transport Minister Derrick Burgess asking for a review of safety around Flatts Post Office in Smith’s.

Mr Marsh said that the volume of traffic around the Post Office created a high risk of accidents.

Mr Marsh, who lives on Knapton Hill, said: “I’ve seen some very close calls there — it’s a tragedy waiting to happen and it’s a miracle a serious accident hasn’t happened already.

“There’s almost no parking at the Post Office and there’s a lot of traffic in the area.

“There’s hardly any room – it definitely needs a bigger parking area.”

Mr Marsh, a retired businessman, said that cars leaving the Post Office and heading west towards Hamilton had to cut across the carriageway – risking a collision with traffic coming round the bend in the opposite direction.

He said banning right turns at the Post Office exit would be a first step in making the area safer.

Mr Marsh added: “The oncoming traffic appears suddenly from around a corner, often at excessive speed.

Deadly

“Bikes and cars have to maneouvre for a parking spot at the Post Office, often resulting in the necessity to back up into the main road, deadly close to speeding traffic and a dangerous corner.”

Mr Marsh added that the nearby Whitney Institute meant that there were often schoolchildren in the area at peak times, adding to the potential danger.

He said: “There is space behind the Post Office which could be used for parking, which would reduce the risk of an accident.”

Mr Marsh has written to Transport Minister Derrick Burgess to highlight the problem and copied the letter to Public Works Minister Walter Roban and Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva.

A spokesman for the Minister of Public Works Walter Roban said: “Public works engineers are looking into the matter.”