City workers last Friday demolished an elevated pavement at the corner of Camp and Robb streets as City Hall put businesses on notice that it would not tolerate illegal structures, which it says compromise the drainage system .
In addition to the elevated pavement at Camp and Robb streets, city workers also demolished an elevated structure in front of the Royal Castle outlet located opposite the Kitty bus park at Stabroek.
At the location, there was a very high step in front of the premises, where a woman broke her leg recently.
In a statement dated March 18, City Hall said it was gravely concerned over the fact that some businesses continue to elevate the pavements in front of their premises without permission from the City Council. It said this has posed serious difficulties for employees who are engaged in drainage works.
The elevation of the pavements compromises the drainage systems and poses difficulties for employees who have to undertake cleaning in the city, it added, while noting that vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the visually-impaired and the differently-abled are also put at risk.
The statement added that several bridges that were illegally constructed over the pavement and pavements that were elevated at Bourda, Lacytown, Alberttown and Campbellville were also dismantled.
It said persons who are desirous of erecting any structure on the city’s thoroughfares are to seek permission in writing before doing so.
Meanwhile, efforts made by Stabroek News to contact the persons responsible for erecting the structures were futile as they were not available to comment.
However, relatives of the injured woman Bibi Singh, who broke her leg, had raised concerns over the creation of the elevated pavement.
“It is not a matter of her injuries alone but our concern is to raise awareness about it so other people would know what to expect and they can avoid getting injured,” a relative, who did not want to be named, said.
He said when he made enquiries about the issue, he was told that a number of persons previously sustained injuries outside the Royal Castle outlet at Stabroek.
