The I Love Kensington Association (Ilka) is calling for stricter regulations regarding the usage of Rhodes Park soccer fields.
This follows complaints from a resident living next to the park.
Ms Simone Lobetti said on Sunday, May 31, there was an unbearable noise from the fields.
“As residents, we used to enjoy watching a pleasant relatively noise-free soccer match on Sundays. It used to be a community soccer match and a joy to watch.
“Over the last year, it became unbearable to live in Kensington. On Sundays, a large number of people move onto the park’s soccer grounds. They commentate over PA systems that can be heard in Highlands Road, which is about six blocks away,” she said.
Ms Lobetti said this was in contravention of numerous bylaws.
“This park cannot accommodate such events. There is no parking facilities, no ablutions, no first aid provision, no security and the list goes on. People are drinking in a public park and leaving their rubbish for others to collect. There is no respect for the people who live in the area and use the park daily,” said Ms Lobetti.
Ilka’s chairperson, Mr Tony De Munnik, said this shows the lack of respect of other people’s rights.
He said until there is control of the usage of the park, things will get worse.
“Many bylaws are being contravened here. Noise from the open boot of your car on a Sunday afternoon, in a public place, is a problem. Drinking and selling beer without a licence and the use of the PA system without proper arrangements and without a licence creates a disaster,” he said.
In a previous edition, the EXPRESS published an article in which Mr De Munnik stated that Ilka plans to establish access control to Rhodes Park.
“Having access control is not denying people the use of the public space. It eliminates the undesired elements such as criminals and those who want to abuse the park,” he said.
