Atholl scout hall still stuck
THE Atholl Scout Hall has still not reopened as no progress has been made in rectifying a disputed rates bill which has continued to grow every month.
In August 2012 a fun day was held, with the support of a number of sponsors, to raise funds for necessary repairs to the neglected Scout hall. Although the day was a success, the hall still remains closed nearly a year later. The problem posed by the inflated bill was featured in Scout Hall stumped by rates bill, week ending 30 November 2012. At the time, the outstanding balance was an amount of R4 000, owed from before the hall was closed in 2011, plus R25 000 for water and electricity supposedly used at the hall during a period in which it had no electrical connections or running water.
Michael Tyson, Scouts district commissioner of the Gauteng North-West District, said in July 2013 that the disputed amount outstanding had reached about R40 000 as bills continued to arrive on a monthly basis. “It is very frustrating,” he said, “We can’t get the group up and running when we’re R40 000 in the hole. A new group normally runs at a loss at first anyway. We’re dead in the water before we’ve begun.”
Tyson said he followed proper procedure, submitting forms to the relevant entity with the assistance of ward councillor David Potter. He received confirmation that the matter was being investigated, but several months later, nothing had happened. He said the previous Scout leader had reapplied for a special meter reading so that it could be established that the hall had not been receiving water or electricity during the period in question, but according to Tyson, an inspector was yet to visit the premises.
Potter said he would escalate the matter with the council.
