AMIDST proposed Birchleigh housing development projects, objections from residents and illegal land invasions, there is just one question to be asked: what will become of the empty space in Birchleigh?
Birchleigh residents held a meeting on April 11 at the NG Church Birchleigh to discuss the metro’s plans to develop mixed housing in the open land north of Birchleigh ext 1 and Birchleigh North ext 4, next to Esselen Park.
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Ironically, this meeting was held the day before violent clashes between illegal land invaders and the Red Ants, where six land grabbers were injured, in Esselen Park.
A ward councillor’s home was also vandalised in Madelukufa informal settlement in Tembisa.
The clashes were the result of land grabbing, of the same land earmarked for development, by people coming from Tembisa.
During the meeting the day before, 5 104 objection forms were signed. According to the chairman of Birchleigh Ratepayers Association, Dr Stefan Hough, the facilitator of the meeting, not knowing how many residents would show up, he only printed 130 copies.
“The inert strength of the community took over and on D-date, 5 104 objections were delivered at the metro’s city planning department with official proof of acceptance,” Hough said.
“The objections were handed over on April 14 and 15, 28 days after the metro erected a notice board, informing the public of its intended Birchleigh North Ext 4 housing development.”
The next step for the residents is to wait for the metro’s appointed consultants, Terraplan Associates, a national town and planning practice, to contact and consult with every objector in order to understand the reasons behind their objections.
“We were also warned by some councillors that we need to prepare for a tribunal hearing, and therefore need legal representatives, so we have negotiated with AfriForum for legal representation.”
