CONSTANTIA | WYNBERG
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Checkers Centre Plumstead
Telephone: 021 762 3716
genuine leather
R 1’139.--
TUESDAY 25 June 2019 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
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People’s Post
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
New lease on life for Wynberg Wynberg CBD will be getting much needed attention. PHOTO: TIYESE JERANJI
TIYESE JERANJI @jeranji
W
inds of change will soon be blowing in the Wynberg Central Business District (CBD) as the area will be declared a Mayoral Urban Regeneration Project (MURP). The Mayoral Urban Regeneration Project focuses on the regeneration of identified areas within Cape Town. The idea of having the area declared a MURP follows mayor Dan Plato’s visit to the area. The visit, towards the end of May, was organised by ward councillor Liz Brunette. Wynberg Improvement District (WID) board members Roelou Slabbert and Roger King, the Wynberg police CPF Sector 1 Subforum chairperson Nancy Krisch, and the Wynberg Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Associ-
ation secretary Joan van Zyl joined the walkabout. During the walkabout, those invited went to the Wynberg Public Transport Interchange and the CBD from Egham Road and Morom Road to Station Road, the Wynberg Mall, Wynberg Main Road and Ebor Road. According to Brunette, the CBD is at a tipping point and the mayor can assist with allocating funds to projects for the regeneration of the Public Transport Interchange (PTI) and business precinct. “There are no Law Enforcement Officers stationed at the PTI and as a result taxi drivers drive and park in every available space, the roads are congested, informal traders block the sidewalks, drug dealers and addicts ply their trade, and business owners are affected as the parking bays are used by
taxi drivers,” she says. The CBD has caused a lot of outcries with issues of crime, grime, illegal and off-route taxis, gambling outlets, and buildings with problems and problem owners. Brunette says some of the outcomes of the meeting will see a team of Law Enforcement Officers being deployed to the PTI, the WID will fund at least one Rent-a-Cop. If all goes according to plan, R4m will be allocated to the MURP for projects in the CBD. “Wynberg has been on a downward spiral for many years. When I was elected as ward councillor I identified problems and have been raising the issues since 2011. Littering, illegal taxis and off-route taxis are problems at the PTI, along the Main Road, and in the residential areas. Being a MURP will see these issues being addressed,” said
Brunette. Plato says during the walkabout, residents raised concerns about homelessness, problem buildings and crime. “The CBD is being considered as part of the MURP but no final decision has been made as yet. “The objective of this programme is to uplift communities by improving safety, quality of life, and the socio-economic situation,” he says. Some of the areas that have benefited from MURP are Manenberg, Hanover Park, Lotus Park, Nyanga/Gugulethu Bishop Lavis, Valhalla Park, Bonteheuwel, Harare and Kuyasa Interchange Precinct, Bellville Transport Interchange Precinct and Voortrekker Road Corridor, Athlone CBD and Gatesville, Ocean View, Mitchell’s Plain Town Centre among others.