Thumbs down for beach upgrade report

THE long-awaited report on plans for the South Durban beach upgrade is alarming, according to ward 66 councillor, Duncan Du Bois.

The report, which many have been awaiting since public consultation ended nearly a year ago, was promised in June, but only delivered this month. The Sun has requested details on the upgrade multiple times from the municipality, but to date no response has been forthcoming.

The report was presented at the Thursday, 15 October council economic development and planning committee meeting. He claims the proposed short-term interventions are only planned to be carried out from 2017 to 2020.

“I am both annoyed and alarmed by the contents of the report as the compilers have ignored the cogent arguments expressed at the previous public consultation meeting, held on 27 November 2014, against the proposed use of Strand Road as a second access route to Brighton Beach,” said Du Bois.

“The compilers claim that the alternatives – which they fail to name – would be four times more costly to implement. Oaklands Road off Marine Drive was put forward by Ivor Aylward as a more feasible second access route.

It beggars belief that Strand Road, which winds through a heavily built-up residential area and links up with Airlie Road, which is nothing more than the narrowest of lanes, could even be considered as a potential second access route to Foreshore Drive.

The cost of property expropriation alone surely renders the Strand Road option as a no-brainer and a non-starter.”

The councillor has called for an urgent follow-up public consultation meeting.