'It borders on lunacy': Rough roads, health cuts inspire outrage in Hermitage-Sandyville
Mayor says road out of town was 'destroyed' by rain in October, paving delayed until spring
Communities on the south coast of Newfoundland say rough roads and government cuts are putting lives at risk.
Steve Crewe, mayor of Hermitage-Sandyville, says he's lost sleep worrying that residents could be killed while travelling over the local highway to Harbour Breton to see a doctor, after the town's clinic was closed earlier this year.
"I'm afraid of going around the next turn," said Crewe. "Afraid that there's someone been there either related to me or a resident that's been in an accident."
Crewe said part of the drive is over a 25-kilometre road that was wrecked by the remnants of Hurricane Matthew over the Thanksgiving weekend.
More than 20 culverts were replaced following the storm, but sections of road are covered in gravel because the contractor hasn't finished repairs, said Crewe.
"We found out on Friday that the government wanted the contractor to pave the roads but they wanted a warranty."
According to Crewe, the province wanted the contractor to agree to repave sections of the road at the company's own cost if the work didn't last until spring.
"The contractor told me he just couldn't do that," said Crewe.
Crewe told CBC News that a plow's blade can't hit the gravel without wrecking the repair job, leaving those repaired culverts covered with a layer of snow until it melts.
"It's a very dangerous situation right now," he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Works said paving the repaired sections will be a top priority next spring.
Have to drive to get health care
This is the first winter residents will be forced to drive over the highway to Harbour Breton, 42 kilometres away, for health care appointments after Central Health closed the local clinic earlier this year.
The town's clinic serviced 700 people in the area and was staffed by a nurse practitioner two days a week.
"It's going to cripple our town," said Crewe. "How are you going to convince someone to live in town when there's no clinic?"
He said one resident waited weeks for an appointment in Harbour Breton but cancelled his appointment after a snowstorm made him feel like the drive wouldn't be safe.
Crewe told CBC News that the surrounding communities agreed to cover the clinic's maintenance costs if the province covered a nurse's salary, but the proposal was denied.
It borders on lunacy," said Joe Rideout, who formed a committee to lobby the province to reverse the cuts.
"You've got people who don't have access to vehicles and trying desperately to find somebody to serve as a taxi driver to take them to Harbour Breton."
He said the lack of health care is hard on seniors and it's just the latest kick to rural communities.
"Can you imagine what the government's increase in taxes, what it's done to the poor people of this province? It's really knocked the good out of them."
Rideout says there is a nurse practitioner who visits residents in their homes, and wants the nurse put back in the community.