In the wake of the first Bluff Alliance (BA) meeting on Thursday, 26 February the list of concerns have grown. “Following the meeting, we said if we didn’t get an adequate response from the municipality, we would march. Some of the issues were dealt with, like the illegal taxi rank on Tara Road, but much still needs to be done,” said Ivor Aylward, BA member.
Aylward said the main concern is the lack of bylaw enforcement. “People are allowed to do as they please and know nothing will be done to prosecute them. Why is it up to us as residents to fight to get things done, the same things that we are paying for with our rates?”
Areas of concern include the unsafe conditions of the showgrounds, illegal buildings and businesses, slum lords, the harbour oil spills and trucking. “We have this large piece of land, ideally situated on the Bluff, and we can’t even hire it out because of safety concerns,” said Aylward about the showgrounds.
A memorandum is being drafted and a date is yet to be set for the march, pending approval of all the appropriate authorisations.