During 2019, several criminal incidents occurred in the greater Orchards area. As a result, residents came together and explored a number of ways to make the area safer for everyone that lives, works, visits, transits through and attends church services in the community.
One of the initiatives investigated was that of road closures following their reported successes in many suburbs throughout the country, according to the Greater Orchards Resident Enclosure Committee.”In light of this and in accordance with the City of Johannesburg security restrictions policy [which governs all applicable policies and considerations for road closures], it was decided to explore this as a possible solution in making our community safer. A professional consultant was appointed to assist in guiding us along the process,” the committee said.
They explored the solution by applying for a Security Access Restriction (Sar). The enclosure committee added that during the public comment window, the Norwood Oaklands Residents Association (Nora) raised their concerns around two of the four roads off The Avenue being permanently closed to pedestrians.
Chairman of Nora, Brett McDougall said the association believed that all residents have the right to apply for planning rights, including Sars. He said, “The Nora view is that the right of the pedestrian is sacrosanct, hence our comments and objection on that basis. We do not have an informed opinion on traffic impacts of road closures, and this competency is within the scope of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to assess.”
McDougall continued, “We have separately engaged with the applicants of the Sar, and are pleased to report that on the basis of our comments on the necessity of pedestrian access, they have committed to providing pedestrian access to all roads at The Avenue between 6am and 7pm. There is unrestricted pedestrian access at High Road.”
The enclosure committee affirmed that after engagement with Nora, they agreed that pedestrian access would be provided at all points in accordance with Nora’s request. “We believe these to be reasonable and in line with the spirit of what we trying to build in our community. Submissions in this regard will be made to the City to amend this as part of our application,” said the committee.
The committee added that should vehicle access into the enclosure be approved in its current format, it will be via High Road between Henrietta and African streets. “The booms will have to be lifted during certain peak times to allow for easy flow of traffic. In addition, vehicle access off The Avenue into Orchards, Oaklands, Garden and Orange roads will, however, be closed outside of the specific requirements of the City for these to be opened.
“The City’s JRA had not yet provided comment at the time of going to print, however, the Greater Orchards Resident Enclosure Committee said, “It is important to note that no final decision has been made with regards to the road closure by the City.”
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