NPO takes legal action to save trees on Van Buuren Road
The NPO’s communication officer Wendy Zipp told Bedfordview Edenvale News that they were alerted that trees were being cut down “illegally” on the corner of Kloof and Van Buuren Roads, to make way for a new development.
Bedfordview’s celebrated oak trees on Van Buuren Road were recently cut down by an alleged developer.
This sparked outrage on social media among residents.
NPO Better Bedfordview responded to the matter by taking legal action.
The NPO’s communication officer, Wendy Zipp, told Bedfordview Edenvale News that they were alerted that trees were being cut down “illegally” on the corner of Kloof and Van Buuren Roads, to make way for a new development.
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She added that on further investigation, they established that the developer had advised that all three remaining trees on that corner would be cut down.
“Better Bedfordview acted immediately to save our trees,” said Zipp.
Better Bedfordview was the second applicant in an urgent court application that was scheduled to be heard on April 3.
The court application sought to interdict the developer from cutting down the trees until the ownership of the servitude upon which the trees stand was determined, and until full compliance with Ekurhuleni by-laws for the removal of trees was complied with.
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According to the NPO, as a result of this application, the developer agreed to give a written undertaking to this effect to the attorney bringing the urgent application.
The matter has since been removed from the urgent court roll.
“We are not opposed to development. We look forward to this piece of land being developed so that vagrants and drug addicts are no longer a concern there,” said the NPO’s chairperson, Marina Constas.
“We will, however, ensure that developers working in our neighbourhood abide by the law and are mindful of the environmental concerns of residents.
“In the same way that Better Bedfordview is working closely with estate agents, to make sure that our beautiful suburb is not littered with illegal signs, we are committed to ensuring that developers follow the letter of the law.
They cannot ride roughshod over the community and the environment.”
Bedfordview’s councillor Jill Humphreys told the NEWS the contractor had made a “mistake” and that they would be fined.
No comment was received from the City of Ekurhuleni by the time of print.
