Residents of several complexes in Pranticole Avenue in Allen’s Nek have had enough of the unmaintained stands in the area which have become both an eyesore and an incentive for criminal activity.
Bev Bonnett, the chairperson of Sienna Complex, who has lived in the area for 11 years, lambasted the unknown owners of three stands on Pranticole Avenue leading to Hummingbird Avenue for failing to do any maintenance on their properties for over 10 years.
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“We have tried without success to find the owners of the land next to our complex (Sienna) as they should be held accountable to maintain them or be pressurised by the municipality,” she criticised.
Bev attributed the dumping taking place on the vacant properties to the closure of the Panorama Pikitup Garden Site, which was closed for upgrades last year.
“It has become increasingly frustrating living in our area (Allen’s Nek and surrounds) and the Pikitup area. It is beyond disgraceful. There is illegal dumping and the residents of the area are forced to live in this mess.
“We have seen little progress with the upgrade of the Pikitup property. This has resulted in our complexes being at risk due to the overgrown pieces of land,” she stressed, adding that they have already had several fires in the last couple of years which posed threats to their properties.
Bev suggested that, if the owners of these properties cannot be traced, they be transformed, especially the one opposite the garden site, into a park, as there are none in this area. “The community and bodies corporate in the area could be mobilised to apply to council and to raise funds for this piece of land to be changed into an informal park where we can walk our dogs and create a children’s playground that we can secure as our safe haven.”
Pikitup has been approached for comment.
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