CraigPark Residents Association turns attention to Lancaster and Clarence intersection
CRAIGHALL PARK – A resident has joined her residents association and contributed towards making the area she lives in better, safer and more accessible.
In today’s busy world where most people spend their time trying to earn a living, other residents take action to make their surroundings better, not only for themselves but for other residents as well.
Street representative for part of Lancaster Avenue in Craighall Park, Liz Delmont, who acts as the medium between the CraigPark Residents Association (CRA) main committee and the residents became aware of the Lancaster upgrades initiative and called for interested residents to give their input.
Resident Mari Nell from Lancaster Avenue in Craighall Park is one such resident who has contributed to the betterment of the pavement along Clarence and Lancaster avenues. Nell said the CRA initiated a project to improve the on- and off-ramp sidewalk by the SPAR.
Main Committee member of the CRA, Robyn Shamu said, “The CRA identified the Lancaster and Clarence intersection as an area it wanted to upgrade as the verges were completely pedestrian- and wheelchair-unfriendly and unsightly. Incorrect parking was also an issue.”
Nell added that the biggest issue was safety and she was once hit by a car at that intersection. “The parking lot next to the SPAR is located on a steep slope so when people park there and then reverse out when they leave, they don’t see the people coming from the back,” explained Nell.
She said the CRA was doing the best they can to make it safe, to which Shamu added, “The uneven paving has been replaced with proper curbing and access points have been put in. Parking is being reconfigured to allow better pedestrian access and driver visibility.”
Shamu said they were hoping to install more effective traffic calming to make the intersection safer for both pedestrians and cars.
Nell said she had given her input on how they could make the pavement more wheelchair-user-friendly and also contributed to the beautifying of the area with plants. The diligent resident also said she built a little sidewalk around the electrical box on house number 90 and also filled up the trench left open where a water metre had been replaced. She extended her gratitude to her gardeners who did the hard labour involved in the project.
Nell, however, expressed her concern about broken glass on the street that is possibly forgotten by waste-pickers which has led to her wheelchair being worn out while her pet dog Umeka from the SA Guide-Dogs Association hurt her paw.
Nell said, “I long for a city whose people are proud of their environment and who they are. I find that there is a beacon of community unity within the community of Lancaster because whenever there is a call to take action within our social media group, the Lancastrians rise to the occasion.”
Details: CraigPark Residents Association www.cra.org.za
Are you contributing to the betterment of your community? Email details of your project to naidines@caxton.co.za
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