Locals unite to clear problem verge on Lothian Road
A mattress and a plastic chair were also found, with signs that someone was living in the undergrowth.
LOCAL businesswoman, Denzil Burmester welcomed the clearing of a municipal verge on Lothian Road that had become a site for illegal dumping.
Burmester said various roleplayers united to clear the bush. A mattress and a plastic chair were also found, with signs that someone was living in the undergrowth.
“This has been a problem for the last five years and I’ve tried to get the City to intervene. This time around I felt I couldn’t wait any longer so, with help of Ellysa Entwistle, the Smile and Wave guys and other roleplayers, we cleared the overgrown bush. It has obviously been popular with illegal dumpers as we found building rubble, garden refuse and other items dumped.
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“The verge was so overgrown that one wouldn’t notice it driving or walking down Lothian Road. This was a security concern as my business had been broken into. From a safety point of view, it made sense to cut it back. Our plan now is to replant with indigenous, water-wise plants to help beautify the verge. There is a plan to maintain it so as to not have this happen again. I’m grateful for everyone who united to help out in this cause,” she said.
Lothian Road resident, Ellysa Entwistle, who is on a mission to beautify the north Durban area, said she was happy to contribute.
“When Denzil approached me, I was only too happy to help out. The guys from Smile and Wave were fantastic and, while this may seem like a little thing, it makes a world of difference to residents in the area. I was quite shocked by what we found in such a small space, so I can only imagine what is in other overgrown verges in the area. I’m happy we were able to contribute and clear the area,” she said.
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