Andrew Smith, Photography Editor
Left: A man walks on the bridge at Dam Head, outside of Trout Hall, Clarendon, on Thursday, April 20. Since 1996 the piles on the eastern bank of the bridge have been eroded and the rail tracks no longer connect with the road. Residents walk on the planks on top of the rails.
Right: A bus drives on what is left of the main road in Grantham, Clarendon, that leads to Spaldings, last week Thursday. The road has been eroded by the Rio Minho. Residents attribute the damage to Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, citing extreme danger, especially at night. - PHOTOS BY ANDREW SMITH/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
RESIDENTS OF Frank-field, Trout Hall, Grantham and Crooked River are appealing to the authorities to initiate a river training programme for them and other communities in northern Clarendon, located on the banks of the Rio Minho.
Evidence of this need is seen on the main road from May Pen to Spaldings.
BREAKAWAYS AND FLOOD THREATS
At both Dam Head and Grantham, erosion of the river banks has resulted in the several breakaways on the road. The road at Dam Head, outside of Trout Hall, has also been cut away, and on March 30 a GSAT invigilator drove off the road after trying to avoid another motorist.
At Grantham, the legacy of Hurricane Ivan is visible in a major breakaway which is extremely dangerous.
Frankfield is literally built on the Rio Minho. During heavy rains, such as occurred during the passage of hurricanes 'Dennis' and 'Emily' in July 2005, the river rose to the height of a veranda that overlooks the river.
Over five years ago, the river rose from the northern side of the village to the level of the main road.
RIVER REHABILITATION
Neville Lewis, a teacher at Trout Hall All-Age School, says that river training, the fixing of the roads, repairing of the Dam Head bridge and using gabion baskets to build up the river bank should be done.
During ordinary rains the main road floods, mainly due to blocked gullies. With the hurricane season imminent, farmers could be stranded in their plots and students unable to get home.
This would be further complicated if the bridge at Dam Head were washed out.
