Move to ban trucks from pass
2006-06-29
THE Stellenbosch Municipality has requested that the Western Cape Provincial Government investigate the volume of heavy vehicles using the Franschhoek Pass, following the crash in which six people died in Franschhoek in May.
According to executive councillor Pieter Venter, heavy vehicles should be banned from the pass, as it is “unsuitable” for such traffic.
“It could be that heavy vehicles use the narrow, winding pass because they want to avoid the weigh-bridges on the other routes.
“This increases the risk of accidents as there are few places in which vehicles can pass one another.
“Franschhoek is a tourist town and residents have been trying for some time to prevent heavy vehicles from passing through the town unnecessarily.
“The Franschhoek Traffic Action Group (T-TAG) has been waging a campaign against heavy vehicles passing through the town and negatively afffecting tourism.
“The provincial government has suggested a sand pit at the bottom of the pass to stop runaway trucks, but there is no space to construct one.
“We believe the only solution is to ban heavy vehicles from passing through Franschhoek and have requested a meeting with the Minister of Public Works, Marius Fransman.”
* Barry Phillips, a spokesman for F-TAG, said that residents were vehemently opposed to heavy trucks using the route through the town.
“A beautiful tourist destination like ours cannot afford to be choked with unnecessary and polluting traffic.
We need more visible policing, speed-trapping and traffic calming measures.”
Members of the action group have now resorted to driving in convoy at 20 km per hour in front of heavy trucks travelling through the town from the pass, exhibiting their organisation’s slogans on their cars.
They also contact companies owning trucks which use the route, to ascertain whether owners are aware that drivers are driving through the town, and warning them that their vehicles might be delayed.
Some Franschhoek residents do not agree with the campaign, as banning trucks from the pass could cause hardship and job losses.
“Many trucks bring fruit from the Vygeboom and Villiersdorp areas for packing in Franschhoek and Simondium - there is no other suitable route for them,” one said.
More
News
|
