WARD 64 residents gathered at the Montclair Recreation Hall on February 25 to voice their frustrations over a range of persistent challenges affecting their community.

People raised concerns about the growing bottlenecks that many believe are steadily eroding the quality of life in the area.

A major point of contention was the rapid mushrooming of new buildings which residents suspect are being developed as student accommodation.

Community members argued that the steady influx of new residents would only intensify pressure on the already strained services.

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Illegal dumping was also highlighted as an ongoing and worsening problem in Montclair. Residents described how piles of waste have become a common sight in certain areas.

Other residents raised concerns about lack of enforcement and accountability. Safety concerns dominated much of the discussion, particularly regarding the reported occupation of Nagle Square by undocumented immigrants. Residents called for urgent intervention to restore a sense of order and security.

Responding to these concerns Colonel Velu Moodley of Montclair police station assured residents that law enforcement is taking place. He confirmed that arrests are being made and said police would conduct targeted operations in Nagle Square to address issues.

However, Moodley also acknowledged the challenges facing the police, noting that local stations are under-resourced.

According to him, limited resources hinder the full implementation of certain operations. Despite these constraints, he pledged that the police would continue working to improve safety in the community.

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