Chartwell North Estates residents accuse Steyn City of unlawful construction procedures
CHARTWELL – Numerous residents from Chartwell North Estates are concerned about the impact of construction vehicles which use Runnymead Avenue to access Steyn City.
Residents from Chartwell North Estates said they have been negatively impacted by the dust and disturbance created by construction vehicles which have started using Runnymead Avenue to access building sites within Steyn City.
Hundreds of vehicles have been recorded driving on the dirt road which lies just outside the Steyn City boundary and on the edge of Chartwell North Estates. They access a contractor’s entrance on the corner of Runnymead Avenue and 8th Road.
This entrance has been used since early June and allows easier access to phase two of the Steyn City development.
Residents who object to use of this road sited issues of health as trucks create large clouds of dust.
Arlette de Jager, who lives with her family on Runnymead Avenue, said her health has become worse in the few months that the road has been used.
“I was diagnosed with emphysema and an auto immune disease [a few years ago],” she told Fourways Review. “I’ve noticed as the months go by [and the road is used] that my health is deteriorating.
“When I’m in my house, I can literally taste the dust in my mouth. My breathing has become more strained to the point where daily tasks such as showering are almost impossible. I’ve also had to start using my oxygen tank more frequently.”
Another concern is safety as construction vehicles speed on the dirt road.
In a press release issued by concerned residents through public relations company Eclipse on 8 August, the entrance was called ‘illegal’ and the decision to create another entrance when there is already one on William Nicol Drive was questioned.
In response to the outcry, Marie Yossava of Grapevine Communications, who has worked with Steyn City for many years, denied that the entrance is illegal and pointed out that Runnymead Avenue is a public road that they have always intended on using as a second entrance to the parkland.
“Some people have said that the entrance is illegal and that just simply isn’t true. All necessary permissions were obtained from the Johannesburg Roads Agency in December 2016, as well as council permission,” Yossava added.
“We have the documentation [of this] and we can’t just do what we want, and we don’t.”
She added that after hearing residents’ concerns about the dust created by vehicles, Steyn City organised a water tanker truck to wet the road about five times a day between 7am and 4pm every day except Sunday.
“In terms of the Steyn City school that is currently under construction, we have also diverted all the construction vehicles that were using Runnymead [to complete the school] so that they now use the Cedar Road entrance instead, to try and limit the traffic and dust.”
Christo de Wet, chief financial officer for Steyn City said, “We hear the frustration of residents who have been inconvenienced by construction, but overall, we’re improving the area and it takes a little bit of pain to get there.”
Details: The public is welcome to send queries and complaints to Steyn City by emailing queries@steyncity.co.za. To find out more about residents’ complaints, contact Eclipse Public Relations company on info@eclipsepr.co.za
