Asalea Street sidewalks overrun

EVERYBODY knows that in summer in Vryheid plants grow (see also letter on Page 8). But it would seem that no contingency plans have been drawn up to control the rampant weeds, grasses and shrubbery in areas of Pionier Park. Pionier Park is that residential area of Vryheid on the eastern side of East Street, more or less over the road from Pionier High School. Coincidentally, the streets in Pionier Park are named after vegetation – Affodil, Begonia, Tulip, Petunia etc, – and the eastern side of the area is defined by Asalea Street. On one side of Asalea Street there are houses, on the other side there is grass and bush going down to the Dorp Spruit, and then up to the back of the light industrial businesses along Stretch Crescent extension. The vegetation here is out of control. It’s spilling into the road in places. One length of the sidewalk looks as if a tractor and mower made an attempt to create a walkway… and then gave up. Maintaining the sidewalk is obviously not helped by the dumping of all manner of household waste in the grass. Said one resident, apart from being a total eyesore, the long grass and shrubbery is a haven for rodents as well as criminals. Quantum Leap, the company contracted by the municipality to maintain its verges, was phoned for comment on Tuesday this week. The woman who answered the phone said she didn’t know where Asalea Street was, and terminated the call. When the number was called a second time, it responded with a fax signal. The Community Services department of the municipality was phoned three times – the line was engaged.