Concerned residents of 3rd Avenue North in Fontainebleau, will urge the City of Johannesburg to implement traffic calming measures on their street.
Merlene Spies took action after reading an article [Petition for speed control measures in Randburg Sun week ending 18 April] in which residents of Fontainebleau, signed a petition requesting traffic calming measures in their street.
She contacted Randburg Sun to enquire what she would need to do to submit a similar petition for her street.
“We have the same problem here,” said Merlene.
“I cannot stress how fast people drive in the afternoon. It is narrow and children walk here.
“My neighbours and I gesture to drivers to slow down but they don’t listen.”Her husband Johan Spies, agreed that motorists do not drive within speed limits on the road.
“They drive as fast as the car can go,” said Johan.”It is like a highway.”
They are adamant that traffic calming measures are needed, and hope that a gate will be installed on the corner of the road and Rabie Street, to prevent non-residents from speeding on 3rd Avenue.
Ward 102 councillor David Potter explained that residents can petition the city council for delivery where government has failed to deliver and the usual channels of escalation continue to fail.
He said that residents often request traffic calming measures in petitions, as well as street light installations, replacement of water pipes and service delivery of individual issues.Petitions also sometimes involve land use concerns and housing issues.
Furthermore, residents can hand deliver petitions to the Office of the Speaker for the city council, or deliver petitions through their ward councillors or to the Office of the City Manager.
These petitions can be posted, emailed or faxed and they can be delivered as a memorandum during a march.
He added that once a petition is submitted residents should keep a copy of the petition, obtain a reference number for it and regularly follow-up on its progress.
A list of Randburg’s ward councillors, the areas they are responsible for and their contact details are available on the looklocal website directory.
Details: Ward 102 councillor David Potter david@oursuburb.co.za; Office of the Speaker for City of Johannesburg 011 407 7335, petitions@joburg.org.za
