DELTA PARK – 1st Blairgowrie Scout Group is building a bridge in Delta Park to separate walkers and cyclists on what is said to be a dangerous corner, allegedly frequented by high-speed collisions.
The bridge crosses a stream near Leighton Road, to provide an alternate route for walkers as opposed to risking a path on a tight, blind corner between the stream and a fence.
It is said that collisions occur between walkers turning the corner, and cyclists riding down the steep hill leading to it in the opposite direction.
Park volunteer and publisher of its online newsletter, Shirley Tebbutt, gave her own account of such an incident in a letter in last week’s edition of the Randburg Sun (week ending 18 July).
However not everyone is all for the bridge.
“The creosote used to keep the wood from rotting in the water has toxicity issues,” said Geoff Lockwood, resident manager at the Delta Environmental Centre.
He called the corner a “problem area” and said the bridge was not a bad idea, but a bridge could have been more effective at another location, and he would have preferred input before construction started.
Patrol leader of the scout group, James Goodhead, said that the bridge should be completed by the end of August.
“I am busy with my Springbok scout award which is the highest award in scouting before I turn 18,” he explained.
“One of the clauses is to conduct a construction project… I am a frequent user of the parks in this area and I have seen the bridges and work other people have done for the benefit of the park users. In conjunction with Shirley Tebbutt, we decided on a suitable place to build the bridge.”
Details: Delta Environmental Centre 011 888 4831; Shirley Tebbutt etebbutt@worldonline.co.za
