BOTHA’s Hill residents were horrified and upset when they saw trees being felled in Chapel Road.
“Botha’s Hill is an attraction to coastal folk, who on occasion, will drive from Durban to enjoy the country atmosphere,” said resident, Dalton Edwards.
“Unfortunately, this wonderful country atmosphere is slowly being destroyed by beautiful trees being cut down. I’ve lived on my property for some 28 years and a lot the residents have actually grown up in Chapel Road and have fond memories of the area.
Edwards said Kearsney College staff were cutting down the trees.
“One of their groundsmen recently told me that the college would be removing the trees as it had plans.”
“However, Kearsney College has not shown anyone its plans and have suddenly started cutting down trees. To a certain extent, it would appear they are going to create a separate road next the current, Chapel Road, and fence the boundary with a six-foot silver wire fence.”
“But none of the residents opposite their property have any idea of what is in store for them and are now pleading with the authorities for help.
“Although Kearsney College own a substantial number of houses along Chapel Road, the occupants thereof come and go, so do the principals and teachers, so there is no form of value to the area they reside in,” said Edwards.
Headmaster of Kearsney College, Elwyn van den Aardweg said: “The Town Planning Department has advised that the proposed developments (a loffelstein wall and fence) were within the Kearsney property and as landowners, there was no need for any special permissions or applications to attend to.
“The developments on our boundary have been focussed on aesthetic considerations and security upgrades. We believe that the attractive retaining wall already constructed along Chapel Road, as well as the planting of over 40 mature indigenous trees over the last year on our Chapel Road boundary, and at great expense to the college, is proof of our sensitivity to the character of the neighbourhood and ecological considerations.
“All trees cut down are exotics. The project is on-going and vegetation is still to be planted in the loffelstein wall to “green” it.”
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
