BRONWYN TANNER: Tuning in – Tidying up Pennington

I had a great experience with Sassa and the post office regarding my pension recently.
Busisiwe Cabela from the Umzinto office of Sassa, along with Colleen Borain, Roselynn Reade, Tracey Rensburg, Andrea Kisten, Saranta Singh, Vani Pillay and Rani Govender of the post office were efficient and kind.

It was reported on community chat groups that the Beach Cafe/Pennington Conservancy was perplexed that refuse had disappeared from the car park and the area looked spick and span. R&M Construction had noticed the rubbish piling up and sent a truck to collect it. Also, workers picked up litter on Pennington Drive and along the R102 to Park Rynie – that was the same company too. Thanks to Richard for this initiative.
What can you do to help your area?

Chairman Martin Hanlon, Tidy Towns Pennington writes:
Tidy Towns is an initiative that started in Margate. It is a private/public sector partnership that encourages communities to improve their local environment and make it a better place to live, work and visit. It more recently extended to Pennington.

Paul Tedder of P&G Construction became aware of this initiative through a friend who is the chairman for Tidy Towns Shelley to Margate.

Tidy Towns undertakes projects to uplift and restore towns to their former glory, particularly as many local municipalities appear to be unable to deliver in respect of services.

In August, Paul invited a group of like-minded people to join him and a representative from Tidy Towns Margate to hear more about this initiative and how they began identifying projects.

Another meeting was held with the Pennington Ratepayers and Residents Association (PRRA), Pennington Conservancy, Pennington Community Watch (PCW) and local businesses to brainstorm ideas.

And so, Tidy Towns Pennington was born with Martin Hanlon (PRRA) in the chair, Leeanne Crown as its secretary and Viv Sandwith (Pennington Conservancy) responsible for public relations.

The PRRA initiated a ‘Pennington Roads Repair Project’ some months ago to which many Pennington folk have donated funds and materials. This initiative now forms part of Tidy Towns Pennington and started on Minerva Avenue some weeks ago in conjunction with P & G Construction that is repairing the bridge along the Makamati stream at Minerva Avenue.

The company is covering the costs of repairs which has proven to be far more complex than originally envisaged. The PRRA has started using the funds donated for repairing the potholes along that road.
Viv Sandwith of the conservancy is working tirelessly with P&G Construction, R&M Construction and Umdoni Municipality to renovate the toilet facilities at the Beach Cafe. In addition, the tidal pool and ocean viewing deck on Pennington’s main beach will be repaired too.

PCW is installing cameras at various points in Pennington to improve safety and security.
In addition to the Minerva Avenue bridge, which is nearing completion, P&G will be repairing the remaining bridges along the Makamati Trail damaged during the recent storms at their own cost.

Community members have erected goal posts for local soccer players who practise at Relton Hall, road signs have been repaired and cleaned and refuse bins placed around our little village.

Tidy Towns Pennington will continue to identify projects, hopefully with the support of local business and the community.
To donate funds for projects in Pennington, deposits can be made at Standard Bank, account number 10178932483. Use your surname as a reference.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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