Mandeville, Manchester — Locals are sick, weary, tired of it, and they are crying out for help.
Every time there is heavy rain in Mandeville, the busy four-way intersection of Ward Avenue, Manchester Road, Perth Road and Caledonia Road is flooded leaving motorists, pedestrians, business operators, shoppers and others traumatised.
She has no guarantees but Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay says she is hopeful that a plea to central government for funds to finance a drain and road upgrade project will reap reward.
“We (Manchester Parish Council) are trying to fix it,” she told Jamaica Observer Central. “The problem is that the channel through which the water flows is just too small for the volume that comes off four roadways, Perth Road, Manchester Road, Caledonia Road and Ward Avenue. It (intersection) is the lowest point, so all the water runs off on to that section,” Ramsay said.
She noted that the large pool of water usually disappears quite quickly once the showers stop. “If you notice the water runs off within 15 to 20 minutes, so it’s not a matter that it stagnates, it runs off but it’s just a matter that the channel is just too small…,” Ramsay said.
She is hoping that a design done by the parish council aimed at correcting the problem will find favour with central government authorities. “We await that,” she said. Ramsay said the tendency by developers to pave areas that were previously under vegetation has contributed significantly to flooding in urban centres such as Mandeville.
“You get more water from paved areas coming on to the roadway (because) as you take out grassed areas you have less absorption taking place,” she said. “We have asked people, even in your homes do not do full paving of your yards, leave some grassed areas in order to contain some of that water through absorption,” Ramsay said.