Who is accountable for poor maintenance? 2009-02-05
IT saddens me when I drive along the streets of Paarl. Our heritage town is looking so neglected and unkempt.
From the moment one enters Paarl, it is evident that no-one takes responsibility for maintaining the gardens.
For years, the garden and water feature in Courtrai was used as a backdrop for wedding photos.
Nowadays, there is hardly a single flowerbed, island or sidewalk anywhere that is not overgrown with weeds or bone dry as a result of malfunctioning irrigation systems. Just look at Main Street, Berg River Boulevard, Jan van Riebeeck Drive.
Does the Drakenstein Municipality still have a department responsible for this work? If there is such a portfolio, it lacks staff supervision and accountability. Perhaps the provincial roads department is also to blame for the state of our town’s entrances?
I would like to encourage the powers that be to embark on a tree planting project in line with similar campaigns in SA.
Imagine avenues of trees from Paarl to Klapmuts and from Paarl to Wellington. Indigenous trees are cultivated in municipal nurseries for this very purpose.
In Stellenbosch,trees are planted in every available spot and the contrast between the towns is self evident.
It is prudent for taxpayers to take a stand against this lackadaisical attitude and try to encourage a sense of posterity.
