Online petition calls for an end to noisy events

A PETITION calling for a stop to the ongoing noise pollution that torments Morningside residents and even those further afield has been created, and ward 27 councillor Martin Meyer is urging residents to sign it so that it can be handed over to City Manager S’bu Sithole.

Meyer said the city has consistently ignored the plight of the residents and the noise from loud concerts and events held in venues like People’s Park and Curries Fountain, and he, with the help of other councillors, including Nicole Graham (ward 33), Jethro Leferve (ward 31) and Shaun Ryley (ward 36), had been fighting this battle for many years.

He said efforts included discussions with the City Manager, Motions to Council asking them to limit the hours and the levels of the noise, discussions with organisers and engaging with law enforcement.

“These events are allowed to violate the Nuisance bylaws with excessive noise far exceeding allowed and reasonable standards. When this is taken to council I often get told that it is only me that is complaining, or that the problem is not as severe as I make it out to be, or that it is only a specific demographic that is complaining. To help me in this ongoing effort, I have now created an online petition for residents to sign, to give me more ammunition in this fight,” said Meyer.

This coming weekend’s “Keep the Promise” #KTP2016 concert at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, follows two weekends of loud concerts in Durban.

A resident of Lillian Ngoyi (Windermere) Road, Sandra Sullivan, said she had signed the petition and would also be writing to the municipality as she is fed up with the constant noise.

“We had the July weekend, which was followed this past weekend by music which started at 9.30am on Saturday and continued until 4.30am on Sunday. I only got to sleep at 5am. The music gets louder and louder and the speakers are as high as my ceiling! It sounded like the man was in my bedroom. I had all windows closed and the TV on, but could still hear it,” she said.

Sullivan said when she called Metro Police they said they could not respond to the complaint, as the event was given the go ahead by the municipality.

“I think we should withhold our rates until something is done about this. I am fuming! I invite any of the officials to stay in my flat to hear how loud it is, it’s no good the municipality saying it is aware of the problem, they are not doing anything about it! It’s a nightmare and it’s unacceptable. Where are our democratic and human rights? I can’t even sell my flat and move away because of this,” said Sullivan.

Councillor Meyer said by signing this petition residents and councillors would be making it clear that the problem impacted on a large number of people, of all backgrounds.

“It is affecting people’s quality of life, and is a violation of the rights of people in the area. The petition will be delivered to eThekwini City Manager Sbu Sithole,” he said.

“I will then call for a meeting with the City Manager, together with fellow councillors, representatives from the CPF, and community groups in the area, including Save our Berea, where this petition will be presented to him and where we will demand action be taken. We call on the City Manager and the eThekwini Council to enforce its own bylaws regarding operating times for events and the laws on noise pollution. Residents are not against events being held, as these events potentially have a good impact in the city, but residents demand that the city acts in a more reasonable manner when giving permission for these events,” said Meyer.

Meyer urged residents to sign the petition at: https://chn.ge/29sMhPI