MORE than 500 people of Vunaniu Village in Serua Province have raised their concerns on the inaccessibility of the village Irish crossing when heavy rainfall is experienced.
The Irish crossing used by 534 villagers was always a barrier during bad weather and more than 70 students from the village had to cross the bridge on a daily basis during the school period.
Vunaniu Village chairman Sanivalati Niudamu said they were grateful to Commissioner Central Lieutenant Colonel Laisenia Tuitubou for visiting the village last Wednesday, because it gave them an opportunity to raise their concern on the bridge and other developments in the village.
"The Irish crossing was constructed in 1970 and since then it has always flooded leaving villages and students stranded on either side of the bridge," he said.
"Heavy rainfall is experienced a lot in the province so the bridge is underwater most of the time.
"We have asked the Commissioner Central to help us in elevating the bridge, so that water does not flow over it."
Mr Niudamu said even vehicles and buses could not access the bridge when it was flooded, so students do not go to school at times.
Serua provincial administrator Viliame Rakai said even though the Irish crossing was not included in this year's budget for development project, they would try to meet the needs of the people of Vunaniu.
Mr Rakai said they would look into the problem since it was the only bridge that provided access to the village.