Sandpiper Road petition 'gaining momentum'

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - "They persist with their actions without any communication except that they claim to have resolved the matter. We have not received any communication from our council."

So say residents of Sandpiper Road in Lower Old Place, Knysna, who remain frustrated and angered by a barrier between their suburb and the industrial area that has been removed by the municipality. They want to know what measures Knysna Municipality will put in place to keep them and their families safe as they say the municipality plans on allowing construction vehicles and trucks to use their neighbourhood as a bypass from the N2.

In last week's edition, residents aired their concerns with the barrier being lifted and the fact that the municipality had not included them as taxpayers in the decision-making process. They also voiced their concerns about it creating a safety hazard for them.

The municipality responded late last week, saying that council had decided to open the road to address the increasing traffic along George Rex and Vigilance drives, "to alleviate the congestion". The municipality said the road would be opened for "light and passenger vehicles", and that heavy vehicles would not be allowed.

"To deter unauthorised and heavy construction vehicles, height restriction bars and traffic calming measures will be put in place," the municipal statement read.

Residents claim, however, that the municipality, after repeated requests to do so, has not responded to their concerns regarding not being included in the decision-making process and issues such as residents' safety, the devaluation of property, and the impact of noise and air pollution.

Anthony Colley, one of many frustrated Sandpiper Road residents, says the municipality is incorrectly assuming that it has addressed residents' concerns by adding speed bumps and a height restriction bar to deter heavy-duty vehicles.

"Their aim is to alleviate traffic in Knysna, but this decision will increase traffic in our road as it is a short cut to and from the N2. This is not a viable solution. They have not met our concerns re pollution and noise levels, not to mention the devaluing of our properties that we work so hard to finance," he adds.

Anthony Colley at what will eventually be a height-restriction bar across Sandpiper Road. This pole, along with another he says, has been erected without residents being involved in the decision-making process. Photo: Stefan Goosen