Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys has been raising issues needing attention in her ward with the relevant departments.

She said, “In spite of Bedfordview paying considerably to support the Ekurhuleni fiscus, little is coming back to this ward for improvements.”

She shared Bedfordview’s wish list sent to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the last 10 years:

• Traffic circle on Florence Avenue and Van Buuren Road (R0 allocation);

• Boulevard creation on Van Buuren Road between the Strip Mall and the police station (R500 000 allocated for a plan);

• Green Waste site at Gilloolys Farm (R0 allocation);

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• Upgrading water pipes (R15m);

• Driver’s license station upgrade and repair (R15m allocated with the following statement: The department has undertaken not to build any facilities due to budget constraints, but rather maintain the existing ones. It will be reconsidered in the future.

The councillor said the IDP is not for maintenance projects, but for capital projects.
She also sent these urgent requests:
• Stormwater upgrade on Bowling Road;
• Rehabilitation of Arterial East;
• Widening Patendorow – (no allocation).

Humphreys remains hopeful that subsequent meetings and engagements with individual officials on the most urgent requirements may yet yield some results.

She said the collapsing embankments of the Jukskei River and sewer load and stench are a critical issue the city must address.

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“Many of our roads are also urgently in need of resurfacing. Many stormwater drains and kerbs have been smashed by colossal trucks jumping off the Gilloolys interchange to take shortcuts through our suburb. I am attempting to address this on the national and provincial levels.

“More signage and road markings to discourage this damaging practice are needed from our roads department. The EMPD is often requested to exercise operations in this regard,” Humphreys concluded.