Rob in the Hood: Do you ever have that ‘sinking feeling’?

Greetings friends. The CO and I have been celebrating living the past seven years here on the Hibiscus Coast. Seven years: Tempus fugit! Overall, it’s been great living here: superb climate; lovely people; and a pretty-hard-to-beat lifestyle. We used to say we were living in paradise, although paradise has become somewhat frayed at the edges these days. We can put up with water and electricity services being an inconvenience; maybe we can get around the potholes which blight our towns, but service delivery seems to be something of a joke in these parts, and it’s not funny, is it, folks?

Naught For Your Comfort

The Tidy Towns project is proving to be a great success, and a big thanks to those dedicated folks who are reversing the deterioration of our lovely towns. However, is it me, but are there others who are not pitching in with so-called service delivery? We pay our rates and taxes, but, in all honesty, I pose the question: what do we get for it? The potholes in our roads are as many and larger than ever. Yes, the recent rains have caused havoc, with damage to property, life and limb; it has been heart-breaking. But, really, we see little progress, and the authorities are indifferent to the deterioration of the town’s infrastructure.

Stick and Stones

For instance, I was recently almost involved in a four-car prang in Dee Road, Uvongo. Fortunately, the three other vehicles’ drivers had the good sense to ‘go slow’. Actually, all of us had no choice but to drive very carefully, due to the near-caving-in of the tarmac in Dee Road.

Surely, this must be one of the most neglected areas in this neck of the woods? In passing I saw an elderly woman trying to pack the sunken edges with sticks and stones such was the condition outside her home and driveway. In the line of duty, I stopped to see if I could be of assistance.

When Your World Crashes Round You

Ez and Gavin Winters have lived in their home for 20-plus years. During that time, they have experienced a frightening deterioration to their property with poor drainage, and many times the collapse of the adjacent road and verges. When the Winters moved in to their place in 2002, they had beautiful kerb appeal with flowered verges with fully tarred roads and concrete edgings. However, over time, the poor drainage system has led to a complete collapse of the adjacent areas, including the entrance to their property, along with Mr Winters sustaining serious leg injuries, when the driveway collapsed under him.

The road itself, at that point, cannot take the weight of passing vehicles; at best, it is five metres wide, and vehicles have to navigate this hazard. The Winters claim they have been reporting the condition of the road and the driveway for over a decade, but nothing has been done. The situation was further exasperated last July when the fibre-laying contractors dug up the so-called grass verges and underneath their drive-way entrance to the gate causing total collapse. The contractors acknowledged the fault, and agreed to rebuild the driveway. To date, no such assurances have been kept by that company.

George to the Rescue?

We contacted local DA councillor George Henderson to assist. George acknowledged the situation, and advised that he had reported the situation, and would follow up. It should be placed on record that good old George has ‘come to the table’ many times past, so here’s hoping that the municipality will pull finger and get Dee Road looking and being fit for purpose. Let us pray.

See you, Rob.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram