Lack of communication over Redhill Cemetery issues

COUNCILLORS Shaun Ryley and Pete Graham have voiced their disappointment at the City’s lack of communication regarding various issues at the Redhill Cemetery. They said residents have reached their wit’s end with problems like the collapsing boundary fence as well as the removal of alien invasive plants and trees disrupting the fence line in places.

They claim several emails to officials in the municipality have gone unanswered with little or no feedback.

“The Mvoti Neighbourhood Watch have through their own initiative and pocket put up fencing around the collapse cement walls at the cemetery to prevent thieves from using them as escape routes. Despite numerous reports about the affected sections, nothing is done. The lack of feedback is what is affecting residents the most. I’ve also been contacted by a couple in the area who would like to get their own team in to clear the alien invasive trees and plants on the boundary wall, rather than wait for the City to act.

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“There is also a couple who share a boundary fence with the cemetery and have been trying for years to get the City to cut down an invasive tree that is threatening to collapse on their home. There is also supposed to be a three metre buffer zone between the fence and vegetation but it’s got to a stage where cutting back the bush with hand held cutters won’t work. The situation now needs specialist equipment and chainsaws which will require a lengthy role to secure subcontractors,” Graham said.

Ryley added he understood that things took time to rectify but said the lack of communication frustrated residents who are left in limbo.

“I understand there is a lot of red tape for the City to go around from the procurement process to the tender process. All we are asking is for a little feedback as to what is happening. I think the frustrating thing for residents is they follow due process and report an issue but then there is no information as to how long it will take to fix or rectify and the assumption then is that nothing is being done. Irate residents then contact us and we in turn are also met with silence,” Ryley said.

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