Ridley Street residents concerned about neglected site and demand answers from the city
The residents at Ridley Street need answers from the City of Ekurhuleni on the status of the home that has been abandoned for years, which now is used for a dumping site.
A recent clean-up at a neglected property at the corner of Allen and Ridley roads in Selection Park has given residents hope that something may finally be done about a site they say has been a problem for more than 20 years.
They are concerned, however, that the clean-up may be a once-off event.
According to Michael McSkimming, the outside of the property has been used by local garden companies to dump waste and has been reported many times, with nothing done until recently.
McSkimming, who has lived near the property for years, said that the overgrown vegetation and illegal dumping had made the area unpleasant and difficult to navigate.
The vegetation had grown so much that it extended into the road, making it difficult for motorists to pass each other on what is supposed to be a two-lane road.
You could always get through one at a time. If somebody was coming from the other direction, they would have to wait for you to come around, or you would have to wait for them, he said.
McSkimming said previous complaints to the municipality had yielded little feedback.
When you go to the council to complain, they say they will let you know. Thats it, and then you never hear from them again, he said.
The site has also reportedly been used for illegal dumping, including building rubble.
McSkimming said waste was sometimes burnt, causing smoke and unpleasant smells to drift towards nearby homes.
The overgrown property also raised safety concerns, particularly in the evenings, when residents were unsure what might be happening in the vegetation.
He believes discussions in a local Selection Park community group may have helped prompt the recent clean-up after another woman reportedly raised concerns about the condition of the site.
Although the clean-up is a welcome development, he hopes it will be followed by a long-term solution.
I would like somebody to take responsibility, get it cleaned up and maintain it, said McSkimming.
He suggested that, depending on ownership, the old building could be removed and the property incorporated into the park or sold so that it could be put to productive use instead of remaining a dumping site.
For residents who have lived with the problem for years, the hope is that the recent clean-up will mark the beginning of lasting change rather than a temporary improvement.
Comment is awaited from the City of Ekurhuleni.
