Cyrildene residents are still unhappy about the Cyrildene Urban Development Framework (UDF) saying that it will only benefit those with business and not the residents who will be affected by the changes that will take place.
Residents were speaking at the second public participation meeting held on June 8.
AThis comes after the Johannesburg Development Agency, on behalf of City of Johannesburg Development Planning, appointed a consulting firm, VBH Town Planning to investigate the current state of affairs in and around Derrick Avenue, Cyrildene.
n urban development plan is a tool to guide development and land use for particular parts of the city.
It aims to promote a consistent urban development policy approach for effective urban development, provide a vision for spatial development of the study area and to provide interventions to fulfil the wider objectives such as urban restructuring
The objectives of the project is to improve the sustainability and functioning of the study area, to contain the footprint of land use and building changes within the study area and to protect adjoining areas from changes.
This was the second meeting and was used as a backdrop to the planning proposals after the residents raised issues during the first meeting on May 18.
“I have no comment. We are tired of these people coming to present their findings. All we want is to have our area back safe and the way it was before,” a resident said.
“It’s going to change the character of the street. I am concerned that if the development takes place it’s not going to be according to the plan. They will demolish the houses, things will stand there unattended. The grass will grow, dumping will take place and construction will be very destructive to children who are studying’’ said Mr David van Rooyen.
Amongst the people who attended the meeting were the residents of Cyrildene, ward 66 councillor, Clr Carlos da Rocha and ward 118 councillor, Clr Mike Spadino.
The final public meeting will be held on July 6 to discuss the final UDF.
The meeting will be held at Queens High School in 8th Avenue, Dewetshof, starting at 6pm.
Residents can submit their views by June 17 via email to vbh@vbhplan.com.
