A new road, to provide access to and from Sandy Ground, is under consideration. It is to relieve any congestion on the current road and provide what may be an emergency exit from a residential area of Anguilla locked in by sea, pond and hill-side land.
The contemplated road is, however, not a new matter. Historically and culturally, an original pathway was previously there until it became both obscured and impassable by overgrowth and was consequently abandoned. But, over the years, there have been calls for its reopening and development in the area known as Chapel Hill. One such agitator has been the former Elected Representative for Road North, Mr. Edison Baird, during his years both in Government and Opposition.
Now that Mr. Curtis Richardson, Elected Representative for Road South, is the Minister of Infrastructure, the call for the reopening of the road has resurfaced. This is especially after he cleared away the bush to see whether a public road could be properly constructed there.
Mr. Richardson spoke to The Anguillian on the matter. “It is a road that Government has to procure and establish for the public,” he told the newspaper. “There have many varying views as to how to get a new road into Sandy Ground, and I said that I needed to investigate putting in a cut. I went to a local excavator owner and contractor and asked him about the possibility, based on my perception and understanding that an established road was once there. He opened up the area and now that we see it is possible to put a road in there, we will now go through the procurement process to put in the road.”
The Minister added: “I could not put the public under an expensive and elaborate process – involving expenditure, drawings and designs – before I could establish what was possible. Now that I have established that it is possible, I can see the sense of putting the public through a rigorous process and also to serious expense.
“The road is important as only one way of getting in and out of a community is not good unless you intend for that community to be a cul-de-sac. Sandy Ground is a port of entry. It is also a place where entertainment and activity goes on. In terms of disaster preparedness, it makes sense to have several ways to get in and out of Sandy Ground.”
The path is currently closed to traffic. Motorists are advised to be careful entering the area as the loose earth is likely to cause some sticking of wheels as was a recent case.
