Slow development earns residents ire
Local councillor, Heinz de Boer says slow development is not against the law.
A PETROL station on the corner of Umhlanga Rocks Drive and Somerset Drive has earned the ire of local residents who have questioned why the development has taken so long to complete.
A Somerset Park resident who did not want to be named said the petrol station had been under construction for more than four years.
“It’s an eyesore and has been under construction for more than four years. Why is this? In the last few months construction workers had started building a perimeter wall but before that, there were construction trucks being parked there overnight,” he said.
Some residents have speculated the construction process was halted due to their license to operate as a petrol station were revoked by the court.
However according to uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, this was untrue and everything was above board.
“I spoke to town planning regarding the development and they have assured me all the permissions have been granted and the petrol station plans have been approved. Any rumours suggesting otherwise are incorrect.
“There’s no law stating that a development has to be completed within a certain time period. There is nothing untoward about the development,” De Boer said.
Attempts to get a comment from the developer were unsuccessful.
