Hart appeals to CoE to not allow proposed selling of land at Horwood’s Farm
“Horwood’s Farm is a precious park. I would like to ask the municipality to please let community members take ownership of their park.”
Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart has appealed to the City of Ekurhuleni not to allow the proposed selling of land at Horwood’s Farm.
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The proposed council item will see 1.5 hectares of the park’s 8.7 hectares sold for Finance Linked Subsidy Programme (Flisp) housing.
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Hart’s appeal to the CoE comes after the recent success of the Horwood’s Farm Family Market.
The market, which has breathed new life into the park, has contributed to the improvement and maintenance of the park.
The entrance fee charged by the monthly market is invested in the park.
“In 2014, Friends of Horwood’s Farm (FOH) agreed to a proposal by CoE’s Department of Real Estate to lease out the park to a third party,” said Hart.
“At the time it was the most viable solution to prevent further deterioration of the park and vandalism to the homestead.”
In 2016 the proposal was taken to the council; however, it then included the selling of a portion of land along Horwood Street.
“The proposal was not what the FOH and I had agreed on two years earlier.”
Hart said although the item was not passed in 2016, she was asked to comment on the item again earlier this year.
“With the success of the markets and the community’s involvement in the park, I feel the proposal is no longer viable,” said Hart.
“Horwood’s Farm is a precious park. I would like to ask the municipality to please let the community take ownership of their park.”
A request for comment was sent to the CoE on April 25.
Comment was requested by 4pm on April 26.
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.
