Yes, the North Durban Ratepayers’ are a minority group. This is because the majority of North Durban residents are apathetic, couch-whingers, suffering from what we call the ‘numby’ syndrome, Not Until It Is In My Backyard.
It is this minority group that you have to thank for your leafy, residential suburb, as our objections to ‘everything’ have stopped us from becoming another ‘Berea’.
We want Durban North to be a residential suburb first and foremost. We want the eThekwini council to do their job, to look after the interests of residents and regulate and enforce the city bylaws that we have to protect us!
If the writer had taken the time to investigate our objection, he/she would notice that we are not objecting to the development of a Chicken Licken per se, but to the road and traffic impact and safety issues.
We are unhappy and have serious concerns with the road and traffic impacts because we care for the safety of the residents of Durban North.
Clearly, the second writer, too, has not studied the plans and has no idea of the nightmare that the drive through will cause to our traffic and road system in its vicinity. A drive through is not a logical or safe option on that site. Why? The entrances and exits and the turning spaces are too narrow.
There is not enough on site parking for stacking and queries, entrances are off two major thoroughfares that are highly congested at peak times, and visiblity in Tyne place in peak times is extrememly poor because of the setting sun.
This writer calls this ‘some traffic inconvenience’. I would beg to differ in saying that the safety of our residents is ‘the big picture’ as is insisting that the eThekwini Council enforce and regulate ‘safe’ developments as is their role.
That these two residents took the time to write into the Northglen News, shows their positive committment to North Durban, but please get involved and be properly informed if you really want to see our area improve.
Mahatma Ghandi said: ‘Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is important that you do it.’
Irene Reid
Chairman North Durban Ratepayers’ Association
Durban North
