Community rallies to support petrol attendants

THE SPIRIT of giving is alive and well and flourishing in the Bulwer community. After the sudden closure of the Bulwer Park Service Station due to maintenance, the community banded together to help the forecourt attendants enjoy the festive season.

According to the former owner of Bulwer Park Service Station, Tony Ball, the business was sold and the new owner took over on 1 December. “A few days before the takeover date, Caltex sent contractors in to check the “interstitials” which is the airspace between the underground storage tanks and the outer skin of the tanks.

“They discovered that there was a leak present but it was contained within the outer tank and was not leaking into the surrounding ground nor causing losses to the operator as the fuel was merely in another compartment. Caltex tried initially to repair the leaks but were not successful and elected to shut the site to plan for the installation of new tanks next year.”

“I wish to reiterate that the leaks were not affecting the environment or the stock management and in my opinion, just required constant monitoring until the problem could be attended to in the new year. Unfortunately, the corporate decision makers feel very little for the effects of radical decisions,” said Ball.

He said the implications of this was that there is now a huge inconvenience to the local community, a loss of sales to Caltex themselves and Mr Cassim, the new owner, and most importantly, the team of petrol attendants were without income indefinitely.

Glenwood residents, Chantell and Jacques Badenhorst said they had seen a notice on Facebook that the service station had been closed and felt they had to do something to help the staff.

“Every time we went to the station we were greeted with a smile and the attendants were always willing to help. Jacques and I sat and talked about what we could do to help the men, especially over the Christmas period. We posted something on Facebook and the community came forward to help by donating 13 food hampers for the attendants. We really just tried to help the best we could,” said Chantell.

Ball said he had worked at the station for 12 years before taking over the business and running it for 34 years. The current situation saddened him.

“I am very saddened by the developments because thanks to the motivated energetic staff and the wonderful support of the Glenwoodians, Bulwer Park Service Station was a thriving business which I handed over never expecting to see it closed within a few days. I have given the staff some financial support and am very appreciative to the community for their kind gesture,” he said.

He also thanked all the people who supported Bulwer Park Service Station over the years.