Sally Porteous with the stop sign she erected.PORUS, MANCHESTER:
JLP COUNCILLOR/Caretaker for the Mandeville Division, Sally Porteous has been "putting a stop" to what she refers to as "the neglect of the relevant government body" and she says she is prepared to suffer the consequences for her action.
On Tuesday morning, Mrs. Porteous erected a "Stop" sign at the Kendal Road/Ingleside intersection without the authority of the Manchester Parish Council and she says she intends to do the same elsewhere over the next few weeks.
She said the intersection has been without a stop sign for a long time now and this is posing a serious danger to motorists. "Only recently I missed an accident at the same location while I was heading towards Mandeville from my home when one motorist came rushing through the intersection," she said. Adding that if the appropriate signs where in place, motorists would be aware that they are approaching a junction.
The JLP Councillor/Caretaker continued that although she acknowledged that the Parish Council's permission was needed for the erecting of signs but said she was not going to trod that route simply because she believes the situation needs immediate attention. "This situation has gone on for far too long now and if I should go through the Parish Council then it may never be addressed," she said.
Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Horace Williams said he was surprised to learn of the situation and gave an assurance that the Manchester Parish Council would be investigating the matter. He said it would be "selfish, more over illegal' for some one to erect a stop sign on any public thoroughfare on Parish Council roads without the permission of the Council. "This is a very technical matter and before a stop sign is erected, the Superintendent of Roads and Works must assess the location and decide whether such a sign is needed," he said. Noting that there are several specifications, which must be met in constructing and erecting a stop sign Mayor Williams said.
"One would have to make sure that the design and several other technical aspects satisfy the required specifications and that is why stop signs must be sanctioned by the Council," he added.
