Park cesspool irks Woodlands residents

CRIME and illegal dumping has in recent years plagued the quiet area of Carolina Crescent in Montclair.

Residents have complained about the rapid decline in the condition of a park that once was a green lung for wildlife and a safe place for children to play.

But now with the increase of foot traffic coming from the N2 freeway and M1 Higginson Highway intersection and a lack of care from dumpers, the park has transformed into a cesspool for crime and illegal dumping.

One resident who was born and raised in Caroline Crescent, Juanita Reynen whose house overlooks the park has had enough of the pain and suffering of her neighbours. She says they suffer at the hands of criminals and by witnessing the deterioration of her childhood park being turned into a wasteland. According to Reynen, people are coming in their masses, crossing the railway line from the N2 and cutting a path through the park. Not only is it dangerous for them but criminals are also using this path to gain access into our area as well as an escape route. “The problem is that the police have no access to the railway line so they escape. In terms of the dumping, there is a dump site next to the park but it is a common occurrence for people to be turned away from the municipal garden refuse site because of the content of their load which needs to go to a landfill site (Springfield Park) so they promptly enter the park and dump their contents on our field, decimating the area. This has led to a rapid decline in bird life and wildlife, which used to be the pride and joy of our suburb, hence the name Woodlands,”she said.

Residents need to be more vigilant and when they do witness or become a victim of crime, report it immediately

Because of the rapid increase in crime and illegal dumping, a patrol group was created in order to bring illegal activities to a halt. “Our patrol group has been reporting offenders when we manage to obtain registration numbers of the vehicles, which seems never ending and almost a wasted effort it continues unabated,” said Reynen. It is claimed that repeat offenders for dumping are Parks and Recreation trucks, and residents have sent many letters to DSW and the parks department to complain about the issue. One such letter states that residents have approached the drivers of trucks and they insisted that what they were dumping was leaves and branches which would not cause a problem as they would rot away. On closer inspection, the residents allegedly found that it was actually a variety of plastics, building rubble, household rubbish and even baby nappies.

On the matter of crime, it is, according to residents, a daily occurrence. “Crime has rapidly increased in the area. I even witnessed a a group of men attack a passerby and beating him before taking his cellphone. It has become the norm, which is absolutely wrong,” added Reynen. “I have children and I will not allow them out of the house knowing that something terrible could happen to them, they will never experience the park the way I did or learn of the wildlife that used to inhabit that land,” she said.

The patrol group is working on a petition to implement stricter security at the railway lines, in hope of thwarting future crimes and illegal dumping.

W/O Poobalan Marimuthu from Montclair SAPS is aware of the crime in the area. “We are monitoring the area and the N2, but at the end of the day the municipality needs to deal with the issue of illegal dumping and foot traffic through the park.”

Ward councillor, Billie Prinsloo said the difficulty is that part of the park belongs to Spoornet and she did explain to the residents previously that the council can’t fence open property. “Crime is an issue and i have been a victim of it. The crime statistics in KZN are horrific but we have to do everything in our power to safeguard ourselves, get dogs or up your security if you can. Residents need to be more vigilant and when they do witness or become a victim of crime, report it immediately.”