By Nkosenhle Sibisi
Cactus Lane residents in Sydenham are angry over what they say is the destruction of a recreational park caused by a developer. The residents claim that the construction of a building has been going on since earlier this year using the park as an entry point to deliver building material.
Residents claim that they asked the developer to stop the use of the park that led to the removal of the boundary wall despite the request not to remove it by Remona McKenzie, ward 31 councillor. The Asherville Ratepayers Association chairperson Dr Annie Singh, said that the concerns of the community was noted. She said that residents received no communication and that work on the site had continued during late hours of the evening and on weekends, without any consideration for the rights of the residents living in the vicinity of the construction site.
Singh said: “Our major concern is the damage to the park that is in urgent need of rehabilitation and which now lies in total disarray. There has been no undertaking or commitment as to when this will be attended to. As the association, we will not tolerate the conduct of such callous individuals. “We are clear and decisive that due to the lack of co-operation of the developers and contractors, the ARA has had no choice but to refer the matter to law enforcement, for accountability or liability on the part of all those responsible. The workers are now mixing concrete on the park and the ruble has hardened,now,” said Singh.
The Springfield Weekly Gazette spoke to the developer who confirmed that he had a meeting with Imraan Bennet who is the Asherville Ratepayers Association vice-chairperson and they had reached an understanding.
However, Singh said that she does not understand what agreement they have come to because the construction is still going on. Imraan Bennett, vice-chairperson of the ARA said that he was informed by the developer at a meeting on 10 August, that the boundary wall between the park and the construction site would be completed by no later than 19 August, which he says has not happened. “An onsite inspection by the ARA revealed otherwise. Residents have expressed their concerns that the removal of the boundary wall, which had occurred without consultation, compromised the safety and security of the residents. The developer was told by the law enforcement to complete it but has not been done,” said Bennett.
“The boundary wall has still not been completed, the workers continue to mix concrete in the park and urinating,” she said.
Ward 31 councillor Remona McKenzie said that at an onsite meeting in July with the contractors she requested that all activities that were detrimental to the public and damaging to the park was to be brought to an immediate halt.
“Whilst this was impressed upon all those in attendance at the meeting, the developers/ contractors in total violation of the agreement, continued to exploit the park by allowing their workers to gain access and to continue to encroach the boundaries. Another issue was the removal of the boundary wall. This was a violation of a by-law and totally contrary to the directive that I had given, which was to be consulted and approached as the Councillor in the area with regard to municipal property,” said McKenzie.
Resident, Usha Haripersad said that she was “particularly frustrated” by the number of the trucks that are entering Cactus Lane, which is a single-lane road. “High traffic volume of industrial vehicles were bound to damage the already ailing infrastructure, leading to more burst pipes and damage to the road and pavements,” said Haripersad.
