For the second time in seven months, a Sandys resident has thrown down the gauntlet over the lack of maintenance of the street near her home.

Janice Battersbee, who has once more returned her tax bill to the Office of the Tax Commissioner, told The Royal Gazette that she continued taking matters into her own hands to clear thick foliage each weekend in front of her home on Gilbert Lane.

She said it persisted despite assurances several months ago that the matter would be remedied.

Last September, she returned a land tax bill unopened to the Office of the Tax Commissioner with a letter spelling out her complaints.

This week she told the tax office that while there had been some movement by government departments to clean up the area, maintenance of Gilbert Lane had been inconsistent.

She highlighted efforts to tidy up the leaves and debris on the Warren Simmons Community Field bordering the fence along Gilbert Lane.

However, she said the work had been irregular despite assurances from the Department of Public Lands and Buildings.

Ms Battersbee added: “For a government who says that they hear me and want a fairer and better Bermuda for me, I’m certainly not feeling it now, nor for the many years I’ve been trying to make it better in my small corner.

“This effort is not just for myself but for my neighbours, all who walk, ride or drive along the street and all those who use the community field.

“Somewhere along the way ‘serving our community’ got lost. It needs to come back.”

She added: “Once the work has been completed and I no longer have to clean the street and deal with the nuisance, I will resume paying land tax.”

Last September, she said she had raised the issue for more than seven years with government officials, the police and One Bermuda Alliance candidates.

Ms Battersbee said she has since grown accustomed to greetings such as “at it again” from passers-by as she sweeps the leaves in the street.

The Ministry of Public Works has been asked for comment on the issue.