A Village Common for St Francis Bay? (Updated)
Work is due to start on clearing the area today – 14th August!
With work due to start on the proposed village common today and residents are invited to share any ideas on what you feel should be incorporated in the layout of the common. Add your ideas below or e-Mail them to Lyn at contact@sfbresidents.org.
St Francis Property Owners are also looking for helpers to assist in putting the finishing touches once the main bush has been cleared by the municipality. You can contact Lyn at SFPO offices on 042 294 0594
Original post 28 July
The eyesore of the area at the end of Lyme Road South just before the turn into the SuperSpar looks soon to be no more with plans to transform it into a Village Common. This area of bush that bounders on Lyme Road South in particular, has become a dumping ground for builder’s rubble and a refuge for vagrants, some of whom have made the surrounding bush their home.
St Francis Property Owners Association has been in negotiation with Kouga municipality and the Department of Education who own the adjoining erfs (400 & 554) and the municipality has agreed to have the entire area within the boundary of St Francis Bay Bowling Club (east) and College Drive (west) and Lyme Road South (north) and Assisi Drive (south) cleared of alien vegetation to allow the area to transformed into a Village Common.
The municipality has agreed to start clearing the site from 14th August and once the vegetation is cleared, plans are afoot to start beautifying the area. And this is where St Francis Property Owners Association is calling on the community for your help to transform it into a Village Common that will be available to all residents and visitors to enjoy. Several businesses and individuals have already offered to assist with funding, equipment and labour but if you would like to assist in laying out pathways, donating memorial benches or gardens or have any ideas on making this a focal point that St Francis Bay can be proud of, you are asked to contact Lyn Aitken at St Francis Property Owners on 042 294 0594.
This is truly an exciting development and there can be little doubt it will spawn so many activities to add to the lifestyle of the village. “Art on the Village Common”, “Music in the Park”. Certainly a cause we can all get involved with.
Rather turn it into a car park.
We don’t need a car park do we, or am I missing something????
At the same time — why not repair the soccer posts on the (now) small common opposite the petrol station? About all it needs are nets, and one supporting pole is missing. The village kids like to play there, and they’ll enjoy their impromptu soccer games if nets were put up.
Fantastic news.
I hope this includes a playground for young children, as the jungle gym has been removed from the Spar area.
We need to encourage our young children to spend more time outdoors.
Lovely idea! Its about time. I have lived in St Francis since I was born and now having my own toddler now, I would love to take him to a “park” that just has some swings/jungle gym or an open place for him to run around.
I do sometimes take him to the open field next to the school but don’t always feel safe because of all the bush surrounding that area.
Bruce Brooker has already done some work as member of an earlier SFB Residents’Ass.re layout of a similar proposal.Cotact him.
A very good idea which should have been implemented years ago. never too late though.
I know the development of the SPAR was very contentious. Nonetheless there is a very real need for more parking area. I suggest a portion of the land nearest to SPAR be turned into extra parking.
Ask Cape St Francis for any spare memorial benches, there one every ten yards along the front
Open land on College road, owned by the Department of Education – Sounds like Leighton meant for it to used for a school [rhetorical]
Just imagine what that would do for the town … A Common is a nice consolation prize though I suppose.
A putt putt course would do well in that area. Caters for all ages.
An area for a new church.
Substantial work was/has been done on this erf for St Francis Oval/School organisation. Site development plans taken all the way to mayoral committee to establish common grounds, incorporating open areas, sports fields, extreme sports bike tracks as well as possiblilities extended to gym/pool/nets and others…
Eric – very interesting – where can further details of these proposals be accessed, and what was the progress made on them ?
Hi
I have no problem with the fact that this area need an upgrade, but please keep in mind the property owners around this area. We’ve invested in property in St Francis in this area and were already battling the noise levels from places like Legends, etc. An oval with a pavilion? Please if you don’t stay in and around this area make sure to consult with all concerned.
Thanks
Clearing the area of aliens and creating a park-like area would be marvellous.
Erf 554 has a number of red data species which need to be preserved or transplanted. Caryl Logie should be able to advise. The developer undertook to fence in this area, but demolished by contractors and never replaced.
Don’t forget the long-standing application for a church site off College Road. This would only be about 3000 square metres, which would make little impact on the whole.
Happy to assist with clear-up. Hilton Thorpe
Hi Hilton, SDP we did had a Church included, as this was part of the requiste criteria.
I think that a Village Common is a great idea! What about including some outdoor gym/fitness equipment?