Business leads to a decline

I COMMEND Bruce Wigg on an excellent, well-thought-out letter (“Town planning? What a laugh!”, February 14) and totally agree with him.

We as a family own three properties in the area (Richmond Hill) with two occupied by members of the family and the other let.

Ever since that coffee shop in Irvine Street opened the area has seen nothing but a decline.

Stanley Street businesses, while vaunted for their food, have done nothing to improve the area and the proliferation of “businesses” opening in residential properties continues unabated.

Spaza shops open overnight and the rubbish generated piles up. In fact, The Hill is becoming one rubbish dump.

The SRA people bleat and wring their hands, and the ward councillor sits deadpan at SRA meetings and says “things take time” and “there are not enough inspectors”.

Long has Richmond Hill been a DA stronghold, but because of this the ward councillors, the last two and the present, have been no help at all.

Perhaps the DA needs a wake-up call in the area. No “perhaps” about it, it does.

As for the SRA, it should be a warning to the people of Central Hill who are now also being led down this rubbish-strewn garden path.

Joseph Mantilli, Lovemore Heights, Port Elizabeth