The effects of the illegal scrap metal trade have prompted the National Works Agency, NWA, to source over four million dollars to target several areas in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, where sections of the road network have been impacted by theft.
According to the agency, several drains along Wellington Street, Burke Road, and Oxford Road have been left open, after metal gratings were removed.
The removal of the gratings is believed to be linked to the trade in scrap metal.
According to Manager for Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, the removal of the gratings has left both motorists and pedestrians exposed to serious danger.
He says that over the weekend, a woman fell into one of the open manholes, while a car got stuck in another.
Mr. Shaw says the Agency has been facing the problem for some time, and has responded by replacing some gratings with reinforced concrete slabs.
However, the drainage system in some areas does not make it possible to use this approach.
Metal covers have had to be replaced along Wellington Street, with concrete slabs.
Spanish Town sidewalks
Mr. Shaw says another challenge that the NWA is having in Spanish Town is the practice by drivers of delivery trucks to park their vehicles on the sidewalks.
The sidewalks are being damaged, as they cannot manage the weight of these trucks. Pedestrians are also being forced to walk in the roads.
Mr. Shaw says the business community in Spanish Town needs to get involved and help the Agency to protect the sidewalks from being damaged by the truckers.
And Mayor of Spanish Town , Dr. Andrew Wheatley says scrap metal thieves have been wreaking havoc in the parish.
The matter was raised at the Council's monthly meeting, by PNP Councillor for the Ginger Ridge Division, Ralston Wilson who expressed outage at how the theft of scrap metal is impacting the parish's infrastructure.
He further called for a resolution to close down the trade.
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