Sandhills Vista wants road fixed

Residents of Sandhills Vista in Hellshire, St Catherine, are calling on the National Housing Trust (NHT) to fix the marl road which leads from Hellshire Park to the community.

Dominique Harrow-Bredwood, secretary of the benevolent society, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the housing agency made a promise two years ago to fix the road.

"When I was researching this place, ... I asked what happen to the road. They said that after the construction was finished, the road would be fixed. They told me that they did not want to pave the road and then have the heavy truck on it, which would make it deteriorate. So when the scheme is finished, the road would be the finished product," Harrow-Bredwood said.

Sandhills Vista is a 223-unit housing development which was completed in February, 2015. There are two roads that lead to the community, one of which is marled.

Harrow-Bredwood said that the marl road is without street lights, and this makes it dangerous for persons making the 20-minute walk home.

"Every time we contact the NHT about the road, it's another story. We keep getting the runaround with them."

Another resident told THE WEEKEND STAR that children using the dirt road are vulnerable, because the other route to the community is longer.

"The other day, a student got 'box-up' and had his phone stolen," the resident said.

Vanrick Preddie, councillor for the Hellshire Division, told THE WEEKEND STAR that he is not sure of the arrangement between the Sandhills residents and the NHT.

"I heard that the dirt road belongs to NHT and that it was promised to be completed," he said.

Councillor Preddie told THE WEEKEND STAR that a meeting held in July with Minister Horace Chang led to the promise of the road being fixed.

When THE WEEKEND STAR contacted the NHT last Friday, the agency promised to provide a response. However, none was received at press time yesterday.