Chatsworth residents up in arms
RESIDENTS of 50th Avenue in Chatsworth want the owner of a construction company operating on their road to relocate, alleging that his operations cause noise and dust.
According to complaints received by City Watch, the company, K and Z Tarmac Constructions owned by Mohamed Osman, has been causing a nuisance since 2013.
The company builds driveways and supplies concrete stone which has been kept on road verges. Residents have complained, saying they had tolerated the owner’s operations in their neighbourhood for years in the hope that he would listen to their complaints and move his business elsewhere.
They claimed that the heavy trucks that delivered and collected material were noisy. In addition, Osman would park his trucks on their verges, blocking the way and damaging the turf, they said.
One of the residents, who did not want to be named, said the situation had persisted for years and that Osman was not willing to listen to their views. “His business affects us, the entire neighbourhood is untidy, and dust and sand are spread all over the road. “We have previously complained about the trucks blocking our driveways. He complied for a few days, then he carried on. We now want the municipality to intervene because we are not aware whether it’s allowed to have such a business operating in a residential area,” said the resident.
Another complainant, Loy Jignesh, said that when they tried to speak to Osman he was defiant.
“He told us no one owns the verges, they belong to the municipality, and he can park his trucks wherever he wants. We are part of this neighbourhood and we deserve peace and cleanliness. He refused to show us a permit that allows him to operate here,” said Jignesh.
Osman said nothing was wrong with his operations and added that his neighbours were not aware of the city’s regulations. He maintained that the verges belonged to the municipality and that no one had the right to stop him, without the city’s consent.
“I sold my trucks last year. I don’t know why they are complaining now.
“Our road is very narrow. Where am I supposed to park the vehicles?” he asked.
He argued that his material was not blocking the walkway.
“I kept my stuff directly where there is a fire hydrant. Nobody can go there anyway,” he said.
However, he promised to comply with the complaints of his neighbourhood to remove his material.