SRA concerns Botha’s Hill residents
BOTHAS Hill is in a chance of being one of the areas that are in the Special Rating Areas (SRA) in the country.
NOT all residents of Botha’s Hill are happy about the plan to turn the area into a special rating area (SRA).
The Botha’s Hill Residents’ Association has put together a plan which will need to be submitted to council together with a business plan and budget. Special rating areas are specific areas within which property owners agree to pay additional rates for supplementary services to enhance the physical and social environment of the area.
A majority vote of 66 per cent of all the owners or 51 per cent of total property value, determines the approval of the municipality. With a majority in agreement even the dissenters would have to pay the additional rates.
The municipality would disconnect electricity and water if the fees were not forthcoming.
There are certain people in Botha’s Hill that do not agree with the proposal and others who said they cannot afford the additional expense.
Paul Clarkson is one of those who oppose the SRA. He said all residents pay rates and taxes for municipal services and police services, and he sees no need for extra services. Some residents have said that they would need to sell their homes if the SRA is implemented.
“I am totally against the so called proposal of a SRA and will submit an objection to the municipality should a proposal be submitted to them, I am even considering legal action,” said Paul.
According to Paul some residents have no idea of what a SRA is and the whole idea of incorporating Botha’s Hill into a SRA is coming from certain individuals in the Botha’s Hill Residents’ Association.
“At this stage of the game they are gathering information to present a proposal for a SRA but if you look on the website bhra.yolasite.com you will see it as a proposal,” said Paul.
The Botha’s Hill Residents’ Association (BHRA) committee for 2013/14 has recently been elected and Grant Salomon, a member of the committee, was not able to comment.
“It would be premature for me as outgoing chair to comment in an official capacity other than to state that we (BHRA) have been looking at the possibility of a Special Rating Area (SRA) for our area,” said Saloman.
According to Grant, due process will be followed and all relevant stakeholders will be consulted as required by law.
“This is not an arbitrary or high handed process or decision and we would welcome those most concerned to get involved, join the BHRA and as such become an informed and integral part of the journey, whether or not an SRA is accepted and implemented,” said Salomon.
