Pleas for speed humps in Bartlett Road continue
A resident who has been involved in the appeal process for speed humps since 1998, said he has followed every procedure and even offered to pay fo the speed humps out of his own pockets.
DESPITE following all the required procedures to apply for speed humps in Bartlett Road, Pinetown, residents say their calls for help seem to be falling on deaf ears.
This is not the first time the residents have turned to the Highway Mail for assistance. In 2015, an article was written regarding this matter but to this day residents say they are still being ignored.
ALSO READ: Accident fuels residents’ call for speedhumps
The plea for speed calming measures on this road follows a number of accidents which occur on a regular basis.
Rakesh Karamchund, who started appealing for speed humps in 1998, said all they have received are just empty promises.
“When I first reported the issue, a police officer came out and set up a speed trap. A lot of fines were handed out. Eventually, concealed driveway signs were put up but other motorists do not obey the traffic signs,” he said.
For their safety, the concerned resident said they have even offered to pay for the speed humps out of their own pockets but were told it was illegal.
Karamchund said they have lost count of the number of accidents on the road in question.
“We struggle to come out of our own home, we cannot live like this.”
He says he recalls two serious accidents where the jaws of life had to be used to free the drivers.
“Must someone die before the municipality does something?” asked a frustrated Karamchund.
What’s more a disabled man also lives in the road. “It is a nightmare for him to leave the house. We have to go and stand on the road and be on guard,” he said.
ALSO READ: Appeal for speed humps in Kloof turned down
He says they suspect that the speed humps, which were supposed to be erected on their road, were placed on another road not far from them.
“That is a very quite road. When I enquired with the engineers, I was told that when they finish on that road, they will come up to Bartlett Road.
“I have followed all protocols, I have dealt with many officials and ward councillors, I just don’t know what to do anymore,” he sighed.
To make matters worse, the road is also used daily by children who attend a pre-school just down the road from Karamchund’s home.
Instead of erecting the calming measures, the resident said they were shocked to see municipal workers using tar to resurface the road.
“Now with the rain season upon us, we also fear that the water will come straight down our driveway as our house has been flooded before due to the resurfacing of the road. To this day, I struggle to understand what was the reason behind that,” he said.
City responds
eThekwini Municipality spokesman, Msawakhe Mayisela said speed humps were meant to be installed on this road in the last financial year.
“However due to budget cuts, due to the pandemic, the implementation of speed humps on this road and other roads in the City could not take place.
ALSO READ: Speed hump installation delights Bamboo Lane residents
“Speed humps will be programmed for implementation on this road during the current financial year which ends in June 2022 subject to funding being available. We are in communication with the ward councillor,” he said.
He added that the City will need the details of the resident referred to in the e-mail from Highway Mail in order to respond to the allegations of not being assisted.
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