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11TH - 17TH JUNE 2019 - EDITION 791
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CALLS FOR ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT T he Neighbourhood Association Archangel of San Miguel has called for a new road to be built between the town of San Miguel and its satellite urbanisations after a new accident saw a driver have a lucky escape as her car ended in the ditch at the side of the road last week. During the accident, the car left the narrow and winding tarmac road, skidded and embedded itself against the fence of the orange grove. Accidents are an all too common occurrence on the road to Eagles Nest, Las Filipinas, Blue Lagoon and El Galan. This is a busy road with high levels of traffic including farm vehicles and lorries. The road is the only one linking the heart of the traditional urban centre of San Miguel with its urbanisations. A Neighbourhood Association spokesperson said: “This dangerous road runs along the route of three cattle trails, which is a ground considered not to be
developed or in need of special protection. The legally recognised uses of this type of land is for the use of livestock and the displacement of agricultural machinery, which is complemented by leisure and nature activities such as hiking, horse riding or bike riding. “The municipality of San Miguel de Salinas, as noted by a circular from the General Direction of Sustainable Mobility of the Department of Urbanism last year, omitted the construction of a road, linking the urban areas. This means that it is impossible to modifying the current route as legislation, only allows the resurfacing with tarmac. Unfortunately, the resurfacing works carried out last month have increased the dangerousness of the road as the road surface is now higher and as there is no hard shoulder, any small mistake on the part of the drivers results in drastic consequences. The vehicles skid and leave the road without the possibility
of correcting or even getting back on the carriageway as the sides are much higher than the ground next to the road.” The Association is calling for the urgent the construction of a road that solves this serious problem which has been an ongoing issue for four decades. It is calling for the livestock roads to be released to provide the municipality with the necessary green infrastructure access for agricultural work and the leisure and enjoyment of nature by local residents. Mireille Toddington