A Scrooge in Cape St Francis – surely not ???
Hopefully it was an unthinking oversight but the way thorny brush has been piled to block the pathway to the beach on de Jonge Thomas Road in Cape St Francis does sadly appear intentional.
A week or so back we ran an article of David (Nevil Hulett) slaying Goliath (group of Gauteng based property owners). Close to a hundred readers posted comments of support for Nevil and his Quaysyde restaurant and quite rightly so for he had defeated those who seemingly feel the have the right to decide on what is best for the St Francis community aand he beat them in no better place than Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein.
Whilst one can be pretty sure this matter won’t end up in court,, the fact that access across a piece of undeveloped sand dune that disturbs no one has been stopped is really no different than trying to stop Quaysyde giving pleasure to so many.
The pathway certainly wasn’t an eyesore and wasn’t causing any ecological damage to the dunes or vegetation. That has now changed for the the thorn brush is unsightly and debatable whether it is indigenous. Hopefully the thorns will rot in time for at the moment they do pose a danger to young kids and animals should they inadvertently stand on one.
The owner has placed a sign board at the upper entry highlighting the layout of the plot (347) and careful inspection illustrates that he / she has in fact placed the thorn bushes outside the property boundary. Certainly the pathway pedestrians would follow (indicated in yellow and green dots on the map below) shows that pedestrian traffic does cross the owners land but it is a steep sand dune and no doubt have to be flattened if and when the owner builds on the land. The yellow line extended on the map shows it would be possible to miss the plot altogether if a house is eventually built on the plot making it quite unnecessary to close the patway. If that hallowed stretch is so important to the qwner then may they should apply to have a fence erected around the land / beach…
It would be very interesting to see what sort of home could be built on the plot without causing major eco damage and it certainly needs the community to be vigilant (and bea little scrooge-like back to the owner) as to what plans are one day registered with the building inspector for one would imagine will need more than just the inspectors blessing owing to the sensitivity of the dunes.
Christmas is a time of goodwill and the owners act of blocking access to the beach by those who live and will be holidaying in de Jonge Thomas road really do not need this Scrooge-like attitude for it is nothing more than greed and an attitude of “I will because I can”.
It is a sad fact that more and more property owners in Cape St Francis are denying access to the beach or towards the sea through their properties by erecting walls and other obstructions.
Cape St Francis has always been a friendly little Village where we allowed people to walk through our properties to reach the beach or the rocks. Granted that some people don’t respect the privacy of owners but we have never experienced any problems once they are approached and asked to use the property with the least intrusion.
I suppose that it is a case of development and that the Village is becoming a VILLAGE with more stands built-up and less access to the front.
Since when (according to the map) is it legal to build on a sand dune and halfway on the beach? The owner should be prevented from ever building there, if the map is correct. What has happened to by-laws on building? I thought dunes were protected conservation areas!
I must say I agree with you.
I question that the action of placing thorns and possibly dried alien bush on the dunes is legal. It certainly appears selfish and malicious. Not in the spirit of friendly Cape St Francis at all
Die dorpie is ontwikkel lank voordat al die wette in plek was. Eintlik moet daar nie gebou word nader as 100 meter van die hoogwatermerk van die see af nie. Dalk selfs nie nader as die hoogwatermerk wat ‘n stormsee in 100 jaar kan bereik nie. Die huise langs Sealpoinf Blv is almal te naby aan die see. Gelukkig is dit beskut daar. Erf 347 is moontlik nader as 100 meter aan die see.
Daar is heelwat publieke grond en paadjies op Kaap St Francis se kaart sigbaar om makliker by die see uit te kom, maar party is toegegroei. Die munisipaliteit hou nie die paadjies skoon en oop nie. Daardie publieke toegang langs erf 347 vir almal wat in De Jonge Thomas woon om toegang tot die seete kry, behoort nou skoongemaak te word deur die munisipaliteit.
Outrageous. No building should be allowed there. The owner will need to do an EIA that needs to take the path into consideration. When next I walk by there, I will remove the obstruction.
I suggest that before everyone gets so outraged that they find out the facts. The plot owner has been advised via the EIA process that the plot must be stabilised with natural vegetation before it can be built on. Before venting, perhaps people should put themselves in the unfortunate position of the owner. (I wonder how many outraged residents contributed to the Thyspunt Alliance which successfully diverted the nuclear from our area.) Alongside the plot there is a provision for a legal municipal walkway to the beach – which is wider than that shown with the yellow dotted line – in fact the path space is almost wider than an average plot. If walkers are concerned they should request the municipality to maintain the pathway. Failing this, they can clear their own pathway. The issue of dune management and the maintenance of pathways onto the beach is a massive problem. The previous Kouga Council commissioned a Coastal Management Plan (a legal obligation) which proved to be of no value whatsoever. Hence this is being addressed by a volunteer group in conjunction with the municipality. Management of the Cape St Francis dunes will be addressed in this process. We need to understand that residents have to get become more involved and active. While they may feel they pay rates and expect services, funds are needed to assist people in areas which lack water, electricity etc. – services we take for granted.
thanks Shirley. Your comments are 100% correct.
Surely the community has aquired a servitude by prescription? As far as I know, that walkway has been used regularly for way more than the required 30 years.