New Mediclinic development badly needed

Lizel van der Westhuizen, George:

With reference to the proposed development of the new hospital for Mediclinic George. It is clearly a very positive and extremely necessary development that our city needs. I would suggest that instead of merely accepting the municipality's quote on rules and regulations, I would like to know: Is there an alternative space that the municipality has suggested? If no, why? If yes, where and why there, and not the space in question (adjacent to the Outeniqua Family Market)? George Municipality sits with a huge crisis - have you seen the number of homeless people sleeping in and around the city centre? Is it not true that a huge portion of people in our city does not have jobs? Does the private sector have to take responsibility for everything or will the municipality start to step up and take responsibility?

George Municipality responds:

We can confirm that the Mediclinic George consulted the municipality for alternative sites which were identified and communicated to them. These alternative sites are located both on municipal and private land.

The information and reasons for the decision (to reject their application) are contained in the resolution documents which can be found on the municipal website www. george.gov.za. Go to 'Documents', click on 'General Documents/Notices', and scroll down to ‘Town Planning Tribunal Agenda.’

(Read a story on this matter elsewhere in this issue.)