The storm water drain pipes need upgrading in Windsor West
WINDSOR WEST – A resident is fighting an ancient battle that he inherited after his grandfather died.
WINDSOR WEST – A fight against the elements has spanned two generations, and a resolution does not seem to be on the horizon.
Cameron Miles, a resident has been complaining about floods happening at his house in Duchesses Avenue in Windsor West. According to him, it’s been a battle that his family has been fighting for years.
Miles’ grandfather, Philip Osmond fought this long, losing battle for his entire life. The house has great value to Miles as his grandfather built the house himself. Unfortunately, ever since the house was built they have been suffering from floods.
The house was built in the centre of a gentle valley with low grounds that has been causing all the rainwater to build up. Miles’ grandfather managed to tell his story when an article was written about him and his house – A man’s house becomes his castle – almost was the headline for the article. Miles cannot recall the publication it appeared in, as it happened many years ago.
His grandfather started fighting this battle in 1963 and passed away in 2015 which resulted in Miles taking up this never-ending battle. Miles bought the house and he’s currently staying there with his mother. When he was a little lad, he used to enjoy the floods. Once the rain came, the entire premises turned into a river. “The water comes all the way to my waist,” said Miles. When he was younger, he used to swim in it, now being in the grown-up world Miles realises just what a big problem it’s always been.
According to Miles, he cannot sleep peacefully during a storm, once he sees that it’s raining he gets up and uses towels and clothes to try and barricade the water outside.
According to Miles, another incident happened on 26 January where his house was flooded again. Unfortunately, he was not home during the incident, however, his mother was. He placed a complaint to the Johannesburg Roads Agency but still, nothing has been done. Miles believes that the storm water drain pipes are too small to capture the volumes of rain. He would like the Johannesburg Roads Agency to upgrade the pipes.
Zoleka Jika from the Johannesburg Roads Agency communications department said, “The upgrading of the storm drain water pipes will fall under our special projects. I need to speak to the relevant department. People will be dispatched and inspect the drains to see the cause. From there they will escalate the problem to one of our project managers, specifically in that area.”
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