KAYLYNN PALM
Last week the Plainsman reported on The West-ridge residents who were are up in arms about the “empty promises” made by the developers five years ago (“The Westridge residents want answers”, Wednesday February 24).
Gerd Weideman, architect for the developers (made up of the owner of the land and the builder of the houses), responded to the article and complaints by The Westridge residents on Wednesday February 24.
Mr Weideman said the owner of the land bought the land from the previous owner and have sold the erven zoned for a church and a mosque to the new owners.
Residents were upset about an entrance sign which was taken down in April last year but Mr Weideman said the sign was never taken away, it was stolen.
Jody du Plessis, chairperson of The Westridge Residents’ Association, said parts of the Vibracrete wall around the property have been stolen and damaged.
He added that thieves are now gaining access and are engaging in criminal activities.
Mr Weideman said the boundary wall around The Westridge is owned by everyone inside The Westridge.
“The developers that erected this wall have been off the scene for approximately four years. I would suggest that The Westridge Residents’ Association forms some sort of neighbourhood watch to patrol their fence and not wait to hold the owner of a couple of erven responsible,” he said.
Residents said they were promised access control at entrances and play parks, but there has been nothing. In response Mr Weideman said: “Again the residents’ association has mistakenly assumed that the new developers are the old developers. We would suggest they get in touch with a person by the name of Riaan Pietersen who developed the 200 homes and promised people various things.
“I have enquired with council whether this (access control) is possible but council indicated that these are public roads and cannot be controlled,” he said.
Mr Weideman said they are only involved in designing the 158 erven and have nothing to do with any parks.
He said the church and mosque site has always been part of the general layout, approved by council, and zoned.
“This was in place before any houses were built and every purchaser was completely aware that at some point these will be developed. The same goes for one piece of land, that is zoned commercial (shop), and a piece of land zoned for educa-tion/crèche, which will be developed by somebody, at some point.
“We are not involved,” said Mr Weideman.