New sport, recreational facility for residents

The old Cyrildene Bowling Club, now the Morninghill Country Club, has a new lessee.

Ms Lola Verlaque, from Edenvale, was awarded the tender by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to lease the property earlier this year.

Working quickly to turn this severely vandalised property around, Ms Verlaque said she aims to create a wonderful venue that will hopefully result in being a hive of activity.

She hopes it will become a venue where people can meet, relax and adopt a healthier lifestyle, physically and mentally.

“The tennis courts are being refurbished and we are in negotiations with a tennis coach to run a club. We have two small halls which we would like to use for dancing, yoga, martial arts and so forth. We are looking for interested coaches and teachers. We will remodel the swimming pool to have lessons for children and aqua aerobics.

“We hope the facility will bring the community together and that our club will be seen as not only a sporting facility, but as a social club where families can meet and spend time together in a clean, new environment. The one bowling green is being transformed into a formal garden,” said Ms Verlaque.

She has taken on this project with her family.

The improper management of the club in the past was a concern to local residents for several years.

In 2008, the lessee of the property was evicted after a failed attempt in the Constitutional Court to continue operating.

Before the eviction, residents pleaded with the city to cancel the lease awarded because of the impact the activities at the club were having on them.

Residents accused the tenant of allowing loud noise, using a nearby road as a drag strip, the slaughtering of animals, having no interest in maintaining the premises and being involved in other illegal activities.

Residents were relieved when the lessee was evicted but conditions at the premises worsened.

Criminals stole items of value and vandals defaced the buildings.

Last week Ms Verlaque said, “It did not seem such a big project when we put the offer in. Due to the damage caused by the squatters, it was a bit of an eyesore when we arrived there in May. I enjoy a big project.

“We had a lot of cleaning up to do before the renovating could actually take place. We brought in our team and it took one week just to clear up the car park. The place was totally ransacked. The roof had a lot of damage from a fire and had to be replaced. All the pipes, cables and wiring had been stolen. Even the tennis court poles and fences were stolen.

“The toilets and basins were smashed and being used. The electrical cables were ripped out so the ceilings and lights had to be replaced. The windows were smashed and squatters were basically using the building as shelter so it was in a bad state,” she said.

Ms Verlaque hopes the facility will be used by the community for meetings, markets and social occasions. “This project has not been taken on lightly. My family and I are invested in making this establishment one that will provide the community with what it has been missing – a haven for children, a sporting facility and a place where friends and family can meet and spend time together. We plan to be finished building by the end of November so the decorating can take place through December. We will open at the end of January 2014,” she said.