Fidler in the Hood: It’s being so cheerful that keeps me going
The good news is that Uncle Ray and his aldermen have agreed to the SRA scheme and given the green light.
MID-YEAR greetings, everyone. We are now, give or take a few hours, into the second half of the year. Only 180 days to Christmas. Add a few days more and we should get to 2020. (It’s being so cheerful that keeps me going!). But, firstly: many thanks to all those kind people who sent speedy recovery messages. It’s said when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true. On with the show.
ALSO READ : Fidler in the Hood: Moonlight becomes you, so enjoy yourself
This Could Be the Start…
Your scribe received an update from Ernie Booysens of UCSF, who does a fine job with the local neighbourhood watch in Uvongo. The update was on the proposed formation of an SRA (Special Rates Area) for Uvongo – the idea originally mooted two years back (Herald Bonus, September 2017).
The good news is that Uncle Ray and his aldermen have agreed to the scheme and given the green light. For those who don’t know, the SRA is for the upgrading of service standards in Uvongo – in all aspects. Several municipalities have successfully embraced similar projects – Umhlanga and Ballito, for example.
Nearer home, this is already happening in Southbroom, Ramsgate and Trafalgar and improvements are there to be seen. Sadly, Uvongo and its suburban neighbours have seen a decline in everyday standards. Potholes, overgrown vegetation, safety and security have reached levels for serious concern. Uncle Ray, we have to acknowledge, cannot meet the expectations to keep our lovely town in ship-shape condition.
…Of Something Big
None of us want to see Uvongo go down the tubes. Tourism, the town’s lifeblood, has declined and fewer tourists means fewer jobs. Fewer jobs leads to less prosperity. One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand the economics.
The SRA project is designed to arrest the decline and make the town’s environment a better place to live in.
Of course, nothing is free, but for a small compulsory contribution of around R40 to R50 a month (x10), the scheme will take off.
This a small price to pay and will undoubtedly benefit residents and homeowners.
A huge task
Stage one (Uncle Ray’s ‘okay’) has been set in motion. Stage two is to gain ‘50 percent plus one’ acceptance from residents, including out-of-town property-owners. A huge task and one which will obviously take time, but we all should take part for the well-being of Uvongo.
Non-profit
The SRA will be a NPO-registered organisation controlled by elected board members. Once established, the SRA will receive collected money from the municipality’s finance department, which it will by law pay over to the SRA. Despite obvious concerns, the scheme is working excellently in many other municipalities. Let’s go for it, Uvongo-ites!
Quiz, anyone?
Hope springs eternal, so let’s end local municipal matters with a fun quiz: Dee Road, Uvongo, stretches from Robbens Road to Henry Street over a distance of 1km. Question 1 How many street lights (poles) are there in Dee Road? 2 How many are actually working? 3 How many have lamp covers on? 4 How many electricity-related incidents have been acknowledged? Answers: 1 Twelve, 2 One, 3 Most, but not on the one street light that’s actually working, 4 Four (dated October 21, 2017, and 5 March 7 and July 12, 2018). Still waiting.
A fortnight away
Two weeks to go to the Rotary Anns’ Grandparents’ Walk, on Wednesday, July 3 at 7.30 for 8am. This annual event (35th this time around) is a favourite outing for the whole family, so come along – that’s an order. As previously mentioned, your scribe was up for it, subject to an ingrown toenail healing.
The great news is that the toenail is looking good but unfortunately a latest accident-waiting-to-happen really did happen, resulting in a dislocated shoulder, fractured collar bone, a stitched-up bloodied nose and graunched kneecaps. It looks like it’s a ‘not fit for purpose’ on the big day. (‘Oh, no!’ he said smugly, laying it on thick). It’s being so cheerful that keeps me going!
Hip, hip hooray
Happy birthday to Derec Mohr of Uvongo, who recently celebrated his ‘something-something’ birthday with friends and family.
See you, Rob.
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