Linden updates according to Ward 99 councillor

The Northcliff Melville Times caught up with Ward 99 councillor, Nicole van Dyk, who got us up to speed with what’s happening in her ward.

Van Dyk said projects she had previously submitted to the City of Johannesburg for funding were coming through, such as the R3 million allocated to repair three Linden roads, 1st, 3rd and 4th streets.

The streets will soon be under construction to fix previous damage caused by companies contracted to dig pavements up to install fibre lines.

“Each street will [be allocated] R1 million to go towards its repairs,” she said.

Van Dyk said construction would likely start in the middle of this year and because the roads were long ones, she expected the project to be a lengthy one.

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In addition to the roads being repaired, she said the project would cater for disabled persons who otherwise have little or no access to sidewalks.

“I mean, it’s ridiculous especially because we have a home for disabled people up in 5th,” she said.

Also in Linden, she said a line of communication had finally been opened with the infamous Big Brother house which has been a source of irritation for many residents.

“They have been engaging with residents. There are now open lines of communication that give residents a chance to voice their concerns and so far it’s been working.”

Lastly, Van Dyk has been monitoring and organising the cleaning-up of Emma Park through the monthly A Re Sebetseng clean-ups.

She said once a solution had been found for the camp of displaced people living there, she has dreams of the park’s heritage site being a hiking and picnicking spot.

She pointed out that some elderly people in the surrounding homes have already created a cat sanctuary at the foot of the heritage site’s hill.

She is currently trying to source three or four palisades to fence off the top of the heritage site entrance after it was driven into due to an accident.