A Sandys resident who refused to pay land tax in protest at having to tidy the area around her home said that a government crew this week cut back tree branches that hung over the road.

Janice Battersbee told The Royal Gazette that she arrived home on Monday and saw some of the trees bordering Gilbert Lane were trimmed.

She said: “There was progress with cutting back the trees and I hope that this is maintained annually.

“And also, that the street is cleaned annually.”

Ms Battersbee said earlier that she has cleared trash on Gilbert Lane for the past 2½ years since a street sweeper stopped attending.

She said yesterday: “There needs to be regular clearing and co-ordination between the Department of Works and Engineering, the Department of Parks and even sports.”

Ms Battersbee said she asked for written assurance from the Government that all trees bordering Gilbert Lane — on the Warren Simmons Community Field and Somerset Primary School properties — will be cut back and maintained annually.

She also requested that regular cleaning of Gilbert Lane — where she has lived for more than 25 years — is resumed.

Ms Battersbee earlier returned a land tax bill, unopened, to the Office of the Tax Commissioner with a letter that outlined her complaints about the area.

Yesterday, she said: “Regarding the land tax, it is my opinion that the unpaid September amount had been paid in full — and then some — due to my cleaning the road for 2½ years.”

She added that she would be happy to resume payment next spring if the requested assurances were provided and fulfilled.

Ms Battersbee said the Office of the Tax Commissioner did not respond to her letter, which was dated September 17.

In it, she wrote: “On Saturday, April 9, 2022, I resolved to clear the streets of the debris. This resulted in a five-hour job with 30 to 45-gallon-sized trash can loads which I disposed of on my property.

“Having resolved to never have that build-up on my street again, this has become a weekly job for me.”

The letter added: “My understanding is that the highways department is responsible for the regular maintenance of our public roads.

“I am also of the understanding that my street sign indicates that Gilbert Lane is somewhat of a secondary public road, hence the necessity of keeping it clean and safe.”

In the letter, she said, she had raised the issue over the past seven years with several government departments, as well as other local organisations, the police and One Bermuda Alliance candidates.

After Hurricane Ernesto, she said she spent seven hours collecting 28 trash cans of leaves “only to spend five hours collecting 20 more trash cans the following weekend”.

“The reason for my taking the time and effort to explain the preceding is to provide evidence and my reasoning for the return of the attached unopened land tax bill,” she wrote.

A public works ministry spokeswoman said this month that the ministry acknowledged Ms Battersbee’s concerns and had been in contact with her.

The spokeswoman said then: “We understand that the large tree on Gilbert Lane is causing difficulties, particularly with the accumulation of foliage, which is impacting the maintenance of the road.

“The ministry is working on addressing the issue and is committed to finding a resolution as quickly as possible, as we work to ensure the safety and accessibility of the community.”

The Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance were asked yesterday for comment, but none was received by the time of publication.