RESIDENTS of Glenanda North are tired of empty promises given by their local Ward 56 councillor Michael Crichton and issues they have which are not being looked at.
The CHRONICLE attended a meeting on the evening of April 15 with the GNRA (Glenanda North Residents Association) committee. Crichton was invited but couldn’t make it in time.
“We have many concerns but the main ones are long grass along Amanda Avenue which hampers pedestrians from walking on the pavement, speeding motorists who don’t adhere to the speed limit or the stop street on the corner of Amanda and Beryl avenues and lack of water regularly in the Parks townhouse development,” said Sagie Pillay, chairperson of GNRA.
They are upset they are not getting service delivery in Glenanda North and even though Crichton has been coming to some of the committee meetings, and their concerns are expressed, Crichton promises to see what he can do, and nothing happens.
“We had a meeting with Speaker of the Council, Vasco da Gama, on September 15, 2017, who is working with councillors, political leaders, communities and civil society and he said he was going to approach Clr Rashieda Landis to mentor Crichton but this has never transpired,” they added.
They say the traffic along Amanda Avenue is becoming worse since Booysens Magistrate’s Court opened and even though they have asked for traffic calming measures, only once did JMPD come out and put up a speed trap.
“This is no good. We need continuous measures otherwise motorists ignore the 60 km/h speed limit. We need something which is permanent, like a camera.”
On the evening of April 12, a woman and her young child were walking up Amanda Avenue towards the court when she was knocked over and had to be taken to hospital. “It was very traumatic for her and her child and it’s unacceptable that pedestrians have to walk in the road.”
Pillay went on to say, “We’ve asked Crichton again to assist us and he has said, again, he’ll get City Parks to look at the grass cutting and then request Pikitup to clear up the litter.
“We, with a couple of community members, cleaned up the bottom half of the long grass on April 13, and we’d like to especially thank two young citizens, Ethan and Keana. Your eagerness to be involved and desire to make a difference is exemplary. Together we can make a difference but we don’t need continuous empty promises from our councillor,” the committee added. A business which is situated along Amanda Avenue has also been out with their staff members to cut some of the long grass back.
“A dead dog has been left on the side of the road, covered with a blanket, for almost a week now and the smell is awful. We were told it would be moved soon after being dumped there.
“There are also storm water drain covers missing, leaving big holes which pedestrians can fall into. We are beginning to feel we are being ignored while Crichton regularly holds clean-ups in Rosettenville. What about us? We pay our rates and taxes and are getting little, if nothing, for it.”
The committee added they realise Crichton can’t get everything done. “Surely though some of his promises can be fulfilled,” said the GNRA committee.
Crichton was asked for comment.
Read:
Amanda Avenue residents complain about speeding motorists
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