Ward 10 meeting - roads 'worst they've ever been'
JON HOUZET
Bad roads
"OUR roads are probably the worst they've ever been,” Ward 10 councillor Ross Purdon told his committee in their first meeting of the year last week.
Purdon went through all the bad news first in his opening statements.
He said there had been a problem with the supply of bitumen to the municipality.
"It's not only our ward that's suffering.”
Stormwater
Purdon said stormwater drainage would have to be reviewed.
He said the municipality was "holding thumbs” for the next round of disaster relief funding - R77-million.
"Not even the mayor and municipal manager know when that's coming.”
The economy
"Although we had a good influx of visitors over the season, local businesses are struggling,” said Purdon.
He said the latest minimum wage increases for farm workers would also affect Ndlambe and lead to retrenchments.
Southdowns bridge repairs
Moving to the good news, Purdon said Phumi Trading Contractors from East London had been appointed to rebuild the Southdowns bridge which was destroyed in the floods.
CES environmental consultants have been appointed to deal with the environmental issues.
A temporary access road to Forest Downs and Emerald Heights will be created by linking a cul-de-sac at the end of Umdoni Drive in Umdoni Downs to a cul-de-sac at the end of Sea Breeze Road in Emerald Heights.
Roads to be paved
Van der Riet Street will be next street in Port Alfred to be given a major upgrade after the work in Biscay Road, between Main Street and Gluckman Road, is completed.
Community protection services director Mbulelo Booysen reported that R600 000 had been set aside to replace the potholed parking lot at West Beach with block paving.
No cholera
Purdon was happy to report that Rhodes University scientist Roman Tandlich's latest tests in the Medolino valley revealed no ecoli, cholera or other diseases in soil samples.
But Purdon said an "abnormal concentration” of fungal spores had been found in homes that were flooded – 10 times the normal amount.
New Year's Day debriefing
"There still has been no municipal debriefing about New Year's Day,” said Purdon.
However, he was pleased there were "no major incidents on the day, and no violence”.
"Drinking on the beach remains one of the biggest concerns and will have to be dealt with,” he said.
He congratulated the team of cleaners for doing an "incredible job” on January 2.
Duck Pond boardwalk
The committee recommended that the Duck Pond boardwalk, which has been dilapidated for some years, be removed and there rather be a walkway on the bank, with benches.
