Spaniard’s Bay councillor asks for proof

By Mark Squibb

Councillor Darlene Stamp raised concerns about the conditions of New Harbour Road during last week’s public meeting.
“For months there have been a lot of potholes in the middle of New Harbour Road,” said Stamp. “I’ve discussed this with the Town Manager, and they were supposed to have been filled in, but there doesn’t appear to be any sign that they were filled. And I don’t know if it’s too late in the year to fill those or not.”
She added the road is the main road used by people to get on and off the highway, and, due to the angle of the road, the sun is known to shine directly into drivers’ eyes.
“So, you’re trying to avoid these potholes plus the sun, so it’s a dangerous road,” said Stamp.
Councillor Eric Jewer said the only thing to be done this time of year is use coal patch or gravel to fill the potholes.
Town Manager Toyn Ryan, however, said the potholes had been filled the previous week.
Stamp disagreed.
“There’s no sign of those potholes being filled,” said Stamp. “I’ve walked it. I stopped, I got out of my car, I looked in, there’s no sign of them being filled. So, you can tell me all you want, but they’re not filled.”
She allowed some of the potholes may have been filled, though certainly not all.
The Town Manager, however, maintained the potholes had been filled, and would be filled ten times again “between now and May.”
He concurred with Stamp that the road is indeed a dangerous one.
Stamp invited Ryan to meet her at the road the next day, and swore that if he could prove the potholes had all been filled in, she would offer an apology at the next minute.
Ryan said to let him know when she is available.
“Next week, I’ll apologise if I was wrong,” said Stamp with a laugh. “But I got a funny feeling I’m going to be right.”