THE Umhlanga Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (URRA) said they have appealed the decision given for the approval of a ‘Place of Entertainment’ venue on Lagoon Drive.

On Wednesday this week (June 10), the association held a public meeting at NG Kerk in an effort to address the bingo hall on Lagoon Drive and the future of uMhlanga.

The meeting also saw Saul Basckin of ActionSA and the DA’s Rory Macpherson pledge R5000 each in funds towards the appeal process and both offered ongoing support.

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In all R28 000 has been raised towards the appeal process.

Terri MacLarty, the chairperson of URRA, as well as several members of the association, including Lisa Borland (director of URRA), Duncan Heafield (director and deputy chairperson of URRA), spoke on how the go-ahead for the project, which includes a plan for up to 150 electronic bingo machines, carries negative implications in the area, including increased traffic, social decline and lowering property values.

“While a large focus of the meeting was on the bingo hall, the meeting was also a way to highlight what is at stake should the project go ahead. We wanted to ensure residents’ voices are heard before irreversible decisions are made. This appeal could be the final opportunity for residents to say uMhlanga’s voice matters. For too long developments have been just allowed to happen and be pushed through,” MacLarty said.

MacLarty, like many of the speakers on the evening, made the point that developments need to serve the people of uMhlanga, which is seen as a family-friendly, tourist destination.

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Residents also questioned how a gambling facility was ‘more likely’ to impact the poor and families across eThekwini.

“There is also concern that the broader social consequences of gambling accessibility, including addiction risks affecting vulnerable households and younger adults, have not been sufficiently weighed,” MacLarty said.

The association has also engaged with Kavi Soni, a town planner, and Mohamed Mota of Cox Yeats Attorneys to support the matter on appeal.

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