KNYSNA NEWS - The story behind the long-awaited N2 bypass is now even more mysterious. During a recent meeting of Knysna's Environmental Forum Committee, Councillor Louise Hart (portfolio councillor for planning and development) made the statement that the Knysna bypass will never be built.
According to the South African National Roads Agency website, www.nra.co.za, the draft environmental impact report for the N2 Knysna Toll Highway was made available for public and authority review on April 24, 2009. The review period closed on June 26, 2009.
"If given the go-ahead, the project will be carried out jointly with the Knysna Municipality to provide a highway that could reduce the volume of light and heavy vehicles moving through the Main Street and causing congestion. The Knysna Town Council accepted the proposed national highway construction which is to be paid for by the users of the road through, for example, tolls," it is stated on the website.
Last week, Knysna's acting municipal manager, Grant Easton was asked to answer the community's questions and concerns regarding the proposed bypass, but he responded, "The municipality will not comment on this matter."
Why did the portfolio councillor for planning and development make this statement that the bypass will not become a reality?
Who mandated her to make such a statement?
Is this the position of the council, and if so, when was this decided?
What is the current status of the proposed bypass and what is the municipality's plans forward?
What is the originally planned position for the bypass (from where to where) and is there a budget in place for it?
Hart also refrained from answering any questions on the Knysna bypass, although she phoned the Knysna-Plett Herald on Tuesday, December 9 and said; "I received the questions, but will have to go and search for the information." Easton's response came hours after Hart's promised answer.
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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