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A milestone for Mitchells Plain

Years of hard work and collaboration will now help residents create a safer and more beautiful Mitchells Plain, following the decision to waive application fees for the leasing of identified high-risk lanes.

Today it was recommended at Council that there should no longer be application costs associated with leasing over 300 identified public lanes adjacent to residents' homes in Mitchell's Plain. This comes after years of consultation, and piloting the project in Westridge, Portlands and Woodlands. The City of Cape Town first tabled a motion to close some of these high-risk lanes in Mitchells Plain in 2013, which saw the launch of the pilot project where 57 lanes were initially closed and could instead be used for community gardening, among other things. The decision to do away with the application fees associated with leasing these lanes represents a milestone for the local community members as it will assist in closing off thoroughfares used for criminal activities and was the culmination of the collaborative efforts of City officials, including Sub-council chairpersons and ward councillors, and members of the community. 'It gives me great pleasure to share the tabling at this year's first Mayoral Committee meeting of a report recommending the waiving of lease application fees for the proposed leasing of lanes identified for closure to the respective abutting Mitchells Plain property owners. 'As reported at the time, 55 out of the 57 lanes which formed part of the pilot for Portland and Westridge were closed. The new report anticipates the closure of some 318 lanes with an estimated cost of R8 million, which the City will off-set to qualifying residents, apart from the payment of the nominal annual rental tariff which will be the responsibility of the lessee. Similarly, during May 2020, the City approved the closure of 25 lanes for Woodlands, with the funding model being included in the estimated costs,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos. The closure of the majority of these historic lanes represents the natural progression of the community, expanding its boundaries to incorporate historic sanitation and service access ways into the more effective use for gardening and increased security purposes. 'The reduction of the application cost puts this opportunity within reach of all the affected property owners, demonstrating the ability for this administration to respond to feedback and prioritise the needs of the community. 'I am proud of this initiative from a community cost-saving perspective, the ease of doing business ethos and ultimately assisting with the prevention of criminal activities through these thoroughfares. 'The initiative will continue to be ably driven by the Mitchells Plain Lane Closure Project Committee which constitutes various officials and various political office bearers. The committee operates in conjunction with Sub-councils 12 and 17,' said Alderman Vos. Initially the lanes discussion was concentrated on a specific area, but it is now inclusive of all Mitchells Plain suburbs. 'The waiver of the advertising fee is a step in the right direction. This will allow adjacent property owners to apply for a lease at a minimal monthly fee. Lanes in Mitchells Plain attract crime and grime and escapes for perpetrators of crime. The closing of the lanes will create a safer community by reducing crime,' added Sub-council 12 Chair, Councillor Solomon Philander. Sub-council 17 Chair, Councillor Elton Jansen also welcomes the decision. 'These lanes have been a very sensitive issue for many residents living next to them, in terms of the criminal and other unsavoury activities associated with them. This will assist them to make their immediate vicinity safer and, at the same time, use it to beautify their area as many of our residents have already done,' Councillor Jansen reiterated. With the decision approved by Council, the next stages of the process can commence, with the affected property owners being invited to submit lease applications. More details on the process will be in due course. End

2024-01-29T22:00:00Z

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