GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Well over a year ago, the need for a zebra crossing and some sort of traffic calming measure in Plasket Street for the safety of pupils at Union Preparatory School was raised by concerned parents and reported in the Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.
At the time, the then Camdeboo Municipality responded that they were addressing the matter of a pedestrian crossing in front of the school, alongside the matter of speed control measures in Queen Street. Communications Officer Leolynn Smith commented that “the tender with specifications of the project has been advertised and the project will commence soon”.
In a follow-up article last November, when there had still been no sign of action, the municipality’s comment was that the street where the traffic calming measures need to be constructed contained some potholes. Slurry work (to repair the potholes) needed to be completed before speed bumps could be constructed. “After such slurry work, the Municipality will be able to install the speed bumps,” said Smith. No mention was made by the municipality as to whether the pedestrian crossing which had been requested would also be constructed.
After a request was received last week from a Union parent for a follow-up, the municipality was once again asked for an update on the situation. It seems that once again potholes are being blamed for the inability to install traffic calming measures – whether the promised slurry work to repair last November’s potholes was ever completed is not clear.
“The Municipality is still addressing the matter of a pedestrian crossing and/or traffic calming measures as well as a pedestrian crossing in front of the Union Schools. We are aware this is a long outstanding project. However, traffic calming measures cannot be installed due to a few potholes in the road in front of the zebra crossing, which will be attended to as soon as possible”.
The municipality in the meantime urged parents of children at the school to still exercise caution while crossing the road to and from the school. As one parent commented after last November’s article, perhaps “one morning they are going to wake up to a zebra crossing painted DIY style by concerned parents!”
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