Glen Park station needs urgent intervention
Glen Park Neighbourhood Watch members said the station has become a perfect hiding place for criminals.
THE ongoing plea to clean up and maintain the Glen Park Railway Station continues to fall on deaf ears. The unkempt property still attracts a variety of bad elements and the prostitutes have returned in full force.
The neighbourhood watches have taken on the responsibility many times to clean up the area using their own resources and money.
Glen Park Neighbourhood Watch member, Sharman Collins, said they have run out of options as this matter has been reported numerous times.
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“There are broken branches everywhere, the grass is overgrown and the fence has been cut and the worst thing is that the criminals can see us from inside the property and we cannot spot them because of the thick bush.
“For years, we have been calling PRASA and Metro Rail and we have had no response. This has become a perfect hiding place for criminals and our patrollers are forever chasing criminals around this railway line.”
Collins said they have caught people with break-in and hi-jacking tools such as pliers, knives and screwdrivers, using the railway station as a thoroughfare.
“The problem is we fixed the fence the last time we got together to clean up but it has been cut open again. The trains still use this route and our helpers use the train to get to and from work.
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“They are also victims and they have to stand on the road to wait for the train as they fear for their lives,” explained Collins.
She said the patrollers are doing their best as they are always on guard but there is only so much they can do.
“All we are asking is for someone to meet us halfway, or at least take charge or responsibility for that station,” added Collins.
Why do criminals disappear easily on the railway route?
Patroller, Peter Williams, said the railway line from Moseley to Pinetown is the main infiltration and exfiltration route for perpetrators doing crime in the area.
“The recent revamping of the power cables and support poles on the route at the end of last year had required the access roads to be cleared and resurfaced. The road from Sarnia station next to the railway line to Pinetown is like a highway.”
Williams said there is also an access road from the M13 into this road. Criminals are perpetrating crimes alongside this route and disappearing easily here.
“The PRASA open land at Entambeni is a huge concern as they never clear or maintain the property.”
Glen Park Neighbourhood Watch has cleaned the park and put up a gate to prevent people from dumping rubbish in the area.
The Highway Mail has sent a number of emails to PRASA regarding the state of the Glen Park Railway Station, but has not received a response.
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