Forum aims to clean up Douglasdale
DOUGLASDALE – Two driving forces behind service delivery in Douglasdale have combined their efforts to see that bylaws are strictly enforced in the suburb once again.
The Douglasdale Business Forum, chaired by Susan Mottram, and the Douglasdale Residents’ Forum, chaired by Ruth Fleming, merged into one decisive forum at the beginning of April.
The forum soon launched its ‘Bring back law enforcement’ campaign, a petition which has acquired almost 1 000 signatures from concerned residents who refuse to put up with constant bylaw infringements by lawless motorists travelling through the suburb.
A copy of signatures collected thus far was handed over by Mottram to Metro officials at the Region E Integrated Development Programme consultation held in Sandton on 22 April. She made an appeal to the officials regarding the severe lack of bylaw enforcement, which the forum feels is leading the suburb down a rapid path of decay.
“We followed all the procedures, we phoned the contact centres, got reference numbers, went through our Ward 115 councillor Chris Santana, went through ward committees – did everything we could – to get regular law enforcement on all our main routes,” stated Mottram. “And its simply is not happening.”
Particular roads sited as problem areas are Douglas Drive, Leslie Avenue and Kingfisher, Alexander, Blanford, Hyperion and Bellairs roads.
“These hotspots are decaying, both in terms of infrastructure as well as aesthetics as a result of lawlessness and almost non-existent law-enforcement,” she continued. “Pedestrians are forced to walk in the road because taxis are illegally parked on the grass verges all the way down Douglas Drive, leaving no secure pavement space.”
The forum also hosted a clean-up of the Douglas Drive and Leslie Avenue intersection on 2 May in order to clear litter and debris left by the illegally parked taxis every day. Local resident and business owner, Linda Smith, attended the clean-up and was appalled to find used needles and syringes. “It’s so unsafe, we have children walking on these roads.”
Residents from Foxwood Hill complex at the intersection also said they fear for their safety, as they have often seen taxi drivers and commuters sit on top of the minibuses and watch residents go about their personal lives.
Residents who want to join the forum’s cause and also sign the petition can do so at the Douglasdale Shopping Centre on 30 May from 9am, or contact Susan Mottram at susan@headline.co.za
Do you think Metro police have improved service delivery in recent weeks? Share your thoughts with us by sending an e-mail to fourwaysr@caxton.co.za
