As thousands flock to Kensington Oval for the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 matches, police are warning motorists that illegal parking will not be tolerated.
On Thursday night, a Saturday Sun team saw two traffic cops placing tickets on vehicles parked on the sidewalks from Holborn Circle just outside the Oval, and along the Mighty Grynner Highway. Hundreds of vehicles were parked on both sides of the road as patrons took in the first match on home soil with the Barbados Royals losing to the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The match started at 7 p.m.
Issue tickets
Senior Superintendent Adrian Broomes of the Barbados Police Service’s Traffic Division said officers would have been forced to issue tickets if vehicles were found obstructing sidewalks and congesting major thoroughfares around the Oval.
“The unnecessary obstruction of the sidewalks, footpaths and roadways can potentially imperil the lives of pedestrians who have to walk in the roadway as a consequence,” he warned.
Broomes said he did not know of any “special leniency granted during cricket matches”, despite the high volume of fans.
“It’s not a question of whether it’s an offence or not. Parking on sidewalks is a no-no. The law is clear, and those who breach it are liable to be ticketed,” he said.
According to the Road Traffic Act, Cap. 295, Section 31: “[A] driver . . . shall not drive, ride, carry along or leave any vehicle upon any footpath; or negligently or wilfully prevent, hinder or interrupt the free passage of any vehicle, person or animal or cause, permit or allow any motor vehicle, or trailer to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road.”
Footpath under the Act means any sidewalk or portion of a road set apart for the use of pedestrians.
Broomes reminded the public that several designated parking areas, all within close proximity of the Oval, have been made available to accommodate the high volume of vehicles expected during the tournament.
“Motorists cannot deliberately break the Road Traffic laws by parking their vehicles illegally on the sidewalks and footpaths,” he said.
“To do so would be a dereliction of our duty as upholders of all that is lawful, and it would be a slap in the face of the good order which we are sworn to defend.”
He appealed to motorists to consider the dangers posed to pedestrians, particularly families with children and the elderly.
“When sidewalks are blocked, people are forced onto the road, increasing the chance of accidents. We cannot subscribe to doing things illegally.
Emergency
“We want the public to enjoy the cricket, but we cannot allow disorder on the roads. An emergency can happen at any time – both at the venue and in surrounding communities – and if vehicles are blocking sidewalks and exits, lives can be put at risk. We want to make sure that emergency vehicles can get in and out freely.”
With cricket scheduled last night, tomorrow and next week, the senior superintendent made it clear that officers will maintain a visible presence around the Oval.
“The police are also there to ensure that the roads are not congested and traffic flows smoothly. The Traffic Department will continue to enforce all breaches of the traffic laws and encourage motorists and pedestrians to comply with all traffic signs, road signals and the lawful direction of police officers in uniform,” he added.
Efforts to reach chairman of Kensington Oval
Management Inc. Damien Gaskin yesterday for their take on the matter were unsuccessful. (NS)
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