St. Ann residents complain about overloaded trucks carrying limestone

   

Residents of Golden Grove near Claremont in St. Ann say overloaded trucks transporting limestone through the community are endangering lives and property.

 

The trucks are operated by Lydford Mining.

 

Residents contend that the overweight trucks are causing further deterioration of the road surface, limestone deposits are left on the road, there is a dust nuisance and muddy conditions.

 

Kevin Preston, whose vehicle was damaged last week, says appeals for the company to address the concerns have been ignored. 

 

"On Thursday night, I was coming from Ocho Rios. Reaching a section of Orange Park main road, there was about two or three trucks in front of me and there was some behind me coming down with load. Some of the stuff drop off the truck, some stone, and I have to run over it because I couldn't stop and pick it up because there were trucks behind me fully loaded. It mash up underneath my carriage, the muffler and the barrel," recounted Mr. Preston.

 

Following the incident, he said he spoke with someone who was initially accommodating and asked him to get his vehicle assessed. But when he brought the stamped receipts, the person's attitude changed. 

 

Mr. Preston said he has still not received compensation. 

 

He said the company should use the designated haulage road instead of the main road, especially when the trucks are overloaded.

 

Taxi operator Arden Grandison said motorists are also having a hard time with the poor road conditions, with commuters suffering as a result. 

 

"Right now, mi back a kill mi. If mi run two, three round trip, it hard fi run four di way di road bad. So mi a tell yuh boss, sometime di people dem deh a Ochi and dem suffer, because when wi do three and four round trip, wi cyah go back. Mi travel di whole a St. Ann and mi nuh see no road so bad. A wi have the worse road inna a St. Ann and a bare promises," he bemoaned.   

 

A member of Lydford Mining's management team told Radio Jamaica News that the concerns of the residents have been noted but declined to offer further comment.