For several years residents of Highway Gardens endured the stench of raw sewage but can now breathe a fresh sigh of relief.
The smell would permeate the area during late afternoon leaving many residents at their wit’s end.
The source of the odour was traced to a grey liquid flowing out of stormwater pipes and into an open servitude parallel to Kruin Street.
The News first reported on this matter in September 2016 when community member Angi Collins handed a petition signed with 280 signatures to Ward 92 councillor Tiziana Plaskitt.
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Since then the NEWS updated the community on several occasions. In each of the articles the inefficient infrastructure and the illegal dumping by businesses into the servitude were highlighted as causes for the stench.
In the latest article, published by the NEWS, in June last year, the problem had still not been resolved.
But, this has changed and community members can look forward to breathing fresh air.
On December 12 the NEWS met with Plaskitt and Ward 18 councillor Heather Hart who informed the NEWS that the problem causing the stench had been resolved.
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Hart said the matter was resolved with the assistance of Kempton Park’s water and sanitation department.
“Two causes for the stench were identified namely heavy-duty vehicles damaging sewerage pipes and the abuse of infrastructure and illegal dumping of chemicals by businesses.”
According to the councillors, the municipality conducted a large CCTV project to determine what was causing the stench.
Hart said she, Plaskitt and the community are thankful that the situation appears to be resolved.
Plaskitt said next on her list is to ensure that the servitude is maintained regularly and the vegetation in it is cut regularly.
On January 3 Plaskitt told the NEWS that she had not received any reports about a bad smell in that area.
