DEAR Editor;
To the residents of Ward 15 (Freeland Park, Renishaw, Scottburgh, Park Rynie North), below is the submission made to Umdoni Municipality leadership for the upcoming adjustments budget.
Herewith are the priority needs in ward 15 (these priorities are in keeping with complaints/concerns raised via the Customer Services unit, the ward committee, public consultation as well the imbizo held on November 30 last year at the Scottburgh Town Hall) for consideration in the 2020/21 adjustment budget.
1. Maintenance to storm water infrastructure: The collapsed and congested state of the systems demands urgent attention. The section in the vicinity of 2 Raymond Road has to be addressed as it is undermining private property.
2. Road surface repairs: The roads in Ward 15 have been neglected to the extent that almost every road requires some repairs within this financial year. In particular, Raymond Road needs to have at least 1500 m2 to prevent the road from becoming impassable, Bahama Avenue which is already impassable and 29 Rocklyn Avenue needs to be fixed to prevent the road collapsing completely resulting in lawsuits against the municipality. Slayley Road and Caine Road needs to be graded.
The section of Fifth Street between House of the Rising Sun and Tumble Inn needs grading and road signs urgently as residents are on a daily basis prevented from getting access to their homes. Link Road leading to the newly renovated Premier Cutty Sark Hotel needs urgent repairs to protect and enhance the economic activity of this investment in our municipality.
A further 10000m2 for pothole repairs should take care of the worst repairs for this financial year.
3. Verge clearing and cutting back of overhang: The heavy overgrowth has also encouraged a lot of dumping. There must be provision for this service in Ward 15 on a monthly basis.
4. Streetlight repairs: There are a number of non-functional streetlights which is a contributory factor to the escalating crime in the area. At least R400 000 is required in this financial year for the ward to have some impact.
5. Public open spaces and facilities: The Scottburgh and Park Rynie cemeteries must be maintained on a monthly basis.
6. Contravention notices for all overgrown properties in Ward 15 and funds to be allocated for the clearing of overgrown properties should owners not comply. This funding will only be a bridging allocation as these costs will be billed to the relevant property owners if the municipality has to clear the properties.
7. Speed humps: Funding required for five speed humps in this financial year and the speed humps on Second Avenue and First Street urgently need to be “flattened” and conform to proper specifications.
8. The pools at Scottburgh main beach requires immediate maintenance. The other work that was to have been completed for the December festive period and was not done at the Scottburgh and Park Rynie main beaches and Park Rynie campsite needs to be completed before the April holidays to attract tourists (boom gates, bins, entrance to PR main beach, ablution blocks, etc).
The mayor publicly acknowledged the above concerns at the mayoral imbizo and undertook to address these issues during the adjustment budget and the community are expecting nothing less.
The many years of neglect in the ratepayer areas specifically have resulted in residents withholding rates payments. The non-provision of basic services has resulted in decreased property values and reduced economic activity.
The withholding of rates is also jeopardising the financial stability of the municipality.
COUNCILLOR SHARA SINGH
Ward 15
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