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Page 2 Eco-precinct for Langrug
Page 8 La Motte Sculpture Walk
Page 14 Q&A Tracy-ann Morris
FRANSCHHOEK’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AND ADVERTISER SINCE 1994 • JUNE 2019
R45: Petition! The high accident rate on the R45 into the valley has been on the minds of local inhabitants for quite some time, but even more so since April’s fatal accidents. Action to address the issue is hampered by the fact that it is a provincial road and thus not under the control of Stellenbosch Municipality.
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According to a Facebook post by Stellenbosch Municipality, “Several meetings were held with the relevant Provincial Minister, the most recent meeting being on 23 April 2019. It was agreed that road calming measures, enforcement of speed limits and the possible reduction of the speed limit on this road will urgently be addressed … The municipality will continue to engage with the provincial government until the issue is resolved.” The R45 issue was subsequently also raised by residents of ward 1 at an Integrated Development Programme (IDP) meeting on 30 April 2019. Residents were clear in their demand for traffic circles to be constructed at the most dangerous intersections. Ward Councillor Aldridge Frazenburg told the assembled residents that the municipality is asking for four traffic circles to be approved, namely at the R45/R101 intersection, the R45/Robertsvlei Rd intersection (La Motte Bosbou), R45/Le Roux Street (Groendal turnoff) and R45/Uitkyk Street (PicknPay). Of these only the latter is currently within the municipality’s jurisdiction. The Stellenbosch Municipality Director: Engineering Services, Deon Louw, was pressured at the same meeting to provide a firm date by when the reduced speed limits that were agreed at the 23 April meeting would be implemented. It was also mentioned at the IDP meeting that provincial road engineers would be having site meetings with municipal officials to discuss the best solutions M for the various intersections. Residents, however, Y seem adamant that nothing other than traffic CM circles will satisfy them. Most residents seem to MY agree that speed limits aren’t the real problem, but rather drunken and reckless driving – often at high CY speed. The general feeling seemed to be that other CMY mooted interventions, such as traffic lights and K rumble strips, would be ineffective in dealing with the type of behaviour that has led to most serious accidents along the R45 – not to mention the fact that the former are also unsightly in such a visually sensitive area. The erection of two fixed speed cameras along the R45 was also mentioned at the meeting. According to Byron la Hoe, departmental spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Public Works, “Since Mr Grant’s last meeting (23
Western Cape Transport and Public Works Minister, Donald Grant, receives a petition with 2030 signatures calling for improved safety on the R45 from the petition organisers Joan Archibald and Chantal Lascaris.
April), the Department has appointed a consultant for proposed work on MR 191 (R45). As is the case with all projects, safety will be considered during the design and construction phases. Any formal application from the Municipality for speed enforcement on the road in question will be considered using the usual processes.” Since the two April 2019 meetings there has been a marked increase in the visibility of both provincial and municipal traffic services along the R45. In the wake of the April accidents local residents Joan Archibald and Chantal Lascaris organised a petition, which the Provincial Transport and Public Works Minister, Donald Grant, personally collected on 20 May. At the time of writing the petition had already garnered 2030 signatures. The petition called for a variety of interventions to improve safety on the R45 and reminded the minister of his 27 March 2019 budget speech where he stated that “…if a government in a democratic state does not have the well-being of is citizenry at the top of its agenda, it cannot claim to be either legitimate or representative of the people.” Continued on page 2...
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