Sunday Tribune

Upset residents still waiting for library to reopen

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A ROAD sign is the only remaining vestige to remind Reservoir Hills residents they once had a library.

It has been almost six months since the ethekwini Municipali­ty informed them of the library’s “temporary closure” and that it would be moved to a new site (the Reservoir Hills Shopping Mall).

They were asked to use other libraries in Westville North, Clermont and New Germany while the branch completed its migration.

But residents are disappoint­ed at the manner in which the municipali­ty is handling the situation and say it makes them feel as if they are not respected as ratepayers.

“A voting community expects its public representa­tive to provide feedback on issues that affect them,” says Daniel Pillay.

“There has been a conspicuou­s lack of informatio­n from the councillor, who has not reported to us about the latest developmen­ts regarding our library, either at public meetings or through the media, he says.

Initially residents were delighted to hear that the library would be relocated to the mall because the new site is close to all the schools and on the main transport route, he says.

That the mall has adequate parking and the new library site is large enough to accommodat­e a study area and cyber zones, were seen as pluses.

But Pillay says hopes of the library reopening are fading.

“We cannot bear to see our hard-earned tax money being squandered or not used to provide some basic services,” he says.

A senior official in the city’s library services, who asked not to be named, told City Watch that the delay of the library’s move was related to supply chain processes which needed to be followed.

Another resident, Trevor Moodley, says the municipali­ty has betrayed residents with its failure to deliver on its promise.

He believes the city’s failure to reopen the library has amounted to carelessne­ss and disregard for residents and he is now not convinced the library will ever open at the mall.

“The loss of the library has been a major setback for the community. To date, we have not been informed as to when the library will be in operation,” Moodley said.

When City Watch enquired this week about the reopening of the Reservoir Hills library, ethekwini Municipali­ty spokespers­on Tozi Mthethwa did not address the delay issue.

Instead, she responded with the statement she released in December which reads: “The public is hereby notified that Reservoir Hills Library is closed until further notice.

“During this period library users are requested to use the nearest libraries such as Westville North Library, Clermont Library and New Germany Library to access library services.

“The municipali­ty apologises to all library users for the inconvenie­nce caused.”

For further details and with regard to the return of books, library users can call district manager Thulasizwe Dumakude on 031 503 0684, e-mail: thulasizwe. dumakude@durban.gov.za or Reesha Beharilal, cluster senior librarian on 0315637251 or e-mail: reesha.beharilal@ durban.gov.za SHERWOOD residents have complained that crime has surged in the area.

An elderly couple who live in Locksley Drive claim the unkempt and derelict petrol station, neglected by its owner for almost two years, is a den for vagrants and criminals.

The couple, who asked not to be named, said what was once a popular petrol station on the corner of King Cetshwayo (Jan Smuts) Highway has become an eyesore that has devalued their homes.

“It has degenerate­d into an overgrown bush. It is a huge risk taking afternoon walks because of the suspicious people roaming the area,” said the man.

Said his wife: “Break-ins have been on the rise and this has caused families to install expensive security systems. A security guard also patrols our neighbourh­ood daily, this shows how concerned people are about their safety.”

However, the owner of the old petrol station, Trevor Visvanatha­n, said he had hired security guards and fenced the area to deter vagrants from entering his premises.

He said he had applied to have the 50-year-old petrol stop rezoned a business area, but municipal by-laws had slowed the process.

“Bureaucrac­y has delayed the process,” he said. “It is not intentiona­l to frustrate residents in the neighbourh­ood because we need their support for our business.”

Sydenham CPF spokespers­on Satish Dhupelia confirmed there were complaints about the site being an eyesore, from a year ago, but said the owner recently told them he was waiting for licences before upgrading the site.

“We have received no complaints about the site being used to harbour criminals,” he said.

Ward 30 DA councillor Warren Burne said the revamp of the Caltex 45th Cutting station might be imminent because an applicatio­n for “special consent” had been advertised. – Nkululeko Nene

 ??  ?? A now derelict Sherwood petrol station is said to be a den for vagrants and criminals.
A now derelict Sherwood petrol station is said to be a den for vagrants and criminals.
 ?? PICTURE: BONGANI MBATHA ANA ?? Residents of Reservoir Hills are still waiting for the ethekwini Municipali­ty to re-open their library which was closed six months ago.
PICTURE: BONGANI MBATHA ANA Residents of Reservoir Hills are still waiting for the ethekwini Municipali­ty to re-open their library which was closed six months ago.

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