BY MARIA BRADSHAW

FOR OVER A YEAR, Peter Burrowes, of Hindsbury Road, St Michael, has been trying to deal with excess water that flows into his backyard from a neighbour's property.

Almost every day, the 53-year-old has to watch in vain as the water invades his yard and forms a huge pool.

Now his once paved property is green with moss, and filthy. He can't seem to do enough to get rid of the worms and mosquitoes that have also come by.

Burrowes said he spoke on several occasions to the neighbour but, he added, nothing has been done to solve the problem.

Out of desperation, he finally appealed to the health inspectors at Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic, though he is of the opinion that avenue hasn't helped either.

The man lamented that after several visits from a health inspector, he was no closer to getting the situation rectified.

He charged that the last time the inspector visited, he told him they had advised the neighbour to get a well dug.

Burrowes said he felt insulted when the inspector asked him to put up with the situation until the woman could get the well.

He charged that up to this day, the neighbour has made no attempt to dig the well.

He said he was tired of playing "hopscotch" in his own backyard and was upset that all of his efforts to keep his surroundings clean were being eroded.

Principal environmental health officer at Sir Winston Scott, Noel Rock, said contact was made with the Urban Development Commission that promised to dig a well for the neighbour, and it was hoping this materialised soon.

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Wildey Y junction a big danger to pedestrians:

THIS IS the sign of the times.

Employees of Carters Complex in Wildey, St Michael, have placed a handwritten sign on a tree pleading for a pedestrian crossing at the Wildey Y junction, hoping that workmen from 3S Solutions will see it and take heed.

Some of the employees explained that since the traffic changes that have resulted in a large number of vehicles using the road by the Y junction near the Texaco service station, the road has become a hazard to them and other users.

They complained it has become extremely difficult for pedestrians to cross the road since some vehicles drive around the corner rapidly.

As such, they want a pedestrian crossing to be placed outside the Texaco station and the road to be marked to indicate it is now a two-lane road.

The reason? Some vehicles are not taking up the lane nearest to the service station but then dangerously cross over in order to enter the station.

The employees say they have seen many near hits and misses, and believe a serious accident may soon occur if the road is not properly marked.

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Bad road blues:

RESIDENTS in two separate districts have been complaining about the time it is taking for roadworks in their areas to be concluded.

In Waterman's Land, St Stephen's Hill, St Michael, about six families are feeling as if they have been left marooned in their homes, especially when it rains.

Construction on the road started back in February by José y José contractors hired by the Urban Development Commission (UDC). But residents say it is almost three months that the work has stopped. The road is unpaved and there is no walking path.

One woman said the contractors told her they were waiting for the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to come in and do its part of the job.

But the closest thing to waterworks residents have been seeing is water everywhere whenever it rains, making it extremely difficult for them to leave or access their homes.

And while the contractors have built makeshift wooden steps and placed them in front of each house, residents said they were dangerous as many of them, including children, had fallen on the steps and sustained injuries.

When contacted, officials at the UDC said they had received the approved drawings from the BWA on June 27 and the contractor was advised to resume the work with immediate effect.

Over in Scarborough No. 1, Christ Church, Maria Bartholomew is concerned about the danger the unfinished road poses to residents and visitors to the district.

The road was started on April 16, 2007, and given a completion date of August 16, 2007 but up to this date it is still to be finished.

Bartholomew is concerned about huge trenches along the side of the road. She also pointed out that two vehicles could not travel on the road at the same time and if one was approaching, a pedestrian would have to jump out of the road to avoid being struck.

The woman said she had called the contractor on several occasions and at one point she even visited their St Philip office, but they could give her no answers as to when the road would be completed.

The UDC is apparently awaiting work from the BWA on this site as well.

In a statement, the UDC explained that the engineering company which was responsible for the project had a site meeting with the BWA on June 30, and the BWA had indicated it would inform the UDC when it could resume work on the road.