Cape Town plans for a bumper holiday season

CITY OF CAPE TOWN MEDIA RELEASE

In anticipation of a higher than normal influx of visitors to Cape Town this summer, the City has launched a comprehensive safety and cleansing plan for the festive season. The final draw for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup on Friday 04 December at the Cape Town International Convention Centre is expected to boost this year’s figure to over a million visitors.

Cape Town’s festive season will be officially launched on November 29 when Executive Mayor Dan Plato switches on the festive lights in Adderley Street followed by the traditional carnival parade. Other high-profile events linked to the final draw include a special mayoral welcome for the FIFA executives on 02 December and the Cape Town Final Draw Festival in Long Street on 04 December.

“The City of Cape Town extends a warm welcome to all visitors. The City will do its utmost to enhance their comfort and safety. At the same time, we appeal to visitors and residents to help keep our city clean and safe during the holiday period,” says Mayor Plato. As one of the most popular international holiday destinations, Cape Town offers a 307 km long coastline with 72 beaches and a vast variety of parks and nature reserves which will bustle with recreational and leisure activities over the next few months.

City Manager, Achmat Ebrahim, has established a dedicated Festive Season Co-ordination Committee, representing various City departments, to oversee the implementation of strategies to contribute towards a safe, clean and enjoyable experience for all visitors and residents during the festive season.

The committee, chaired by Richard Bosman, Executive Director: Safety and Security, has devised a co-ordinated plan to alleviate possible high risk eventualities including road traffic accidents, fires, safety and security at beaches, power failures, crowd surges and festival events.

“We particularly urge visitors to slow down and drive carefully at the major road construction sites such as the Koeberg Interchange on the N1 and to adhere to traffic rules at all times,” says Bosman. The following special measures have been put in place to enhance safety and cleanliness:

• The City's Disaster Management Team is on 24-hour full alert and is geared for all eventualities. The public may report any emergency (including medical, crime, fire and traffic) to the 107 emergency number from a Telkom line. Cellphone users need to dial 021 480 7700.
  
  
• Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, and Security and Specialised Services staff will be on duty over the festive season.
  
  
• Regular safety patrols will take place at tourist hot spots and other high risk crime areas. Targeted operations aimed at combating all forms of substance abuse as well as roadblocks will be executed throughout the festive season. The Metro Police's newly established dog unit will also be deployed for the first time during operations over the festive season.
  
  
• These safety initiatives include partnerships with other agencies such as the City Improvement Districts and Displaced Persons Support Unit.
  
  
• Fire and Rescue Services will be on high alert with over 700 full-time firefighters on a shift basis at 28 fire stations on standby across the city. An additional 116 seasonal firefighters will be deployed by December 15 to assist with bush and vegetation fires. Two helicopters, operating from the Newlands forestry station, will assist in aerial fire-fighting. All citizens are requested to heed fire warnings and practice fire safe measures at all times.
  
  
• The City’s partnership with Western Province Lifesaving will ensure that 115 multi-skilled lifeguards are on duty at 44 beaches, as well as at regional and community pools across the city.
  
  
• A total of 19 shark spotters are deployed at seven beaches, namely Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek, Glencairn and Clovelly.
  
  
• Over R17 million has been budgeted for cleansing. Refuse removal will continue uninterrupted over this period (even on the public holidays). More than 900 additional cleansing staff will be appointed to clean-up business districts, scenic routes and beaches.

For holiday makers to have a safe trip, motorists are encouraged to ensure that their vehicles are in a sound roadworthy condition. The City’s Traffic Services will conduct free basic vehicle safety checks at the following traffic centres: Gallows Hill, Bellville, Kuilsrivier, Brackenfell, Hillstar, Goodwood and Durbanville, between 10:00 to 14:00 each working day from 11 December 2009 to 08 January 2010.

End

Issued by: Jan Kruger, Media Liaison Officer, Tel: 021 400-1292 or Cell: 084 300 0630

Media enquiries: Operational: Richard Bosman, Executive Director: Safety and Security, Tel: 400-3355 or Cell: 079 269 2239
2010 World Cup: Pieter Cronje, Director: Communication and 2010 WC spokesperson, Tel: 021 400 4592 or Cell: 082 465 4965

Road Closure Final Draw 2010 FIFA World Cup

The Final Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held at 19h00 on Friday 4 Dec 09 at the CTICC. Prior to and during the event a number of road closures will be in place. Your particular attention is drawn to the road closures for the Long Street Festival as well as for the area around the CTICC. Your tolerance of any inconvenience caused will be appreciated and thank you for your co-operation in this. For information specifically regarding road closures contact 072-324-2476.

Click on the table below to enlarge ››



THE first official event to launch South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ takes place in Cape Town on December 4 and the City of Cape Town is pulling out all stops to demonstrate its readiness to welcome thousands of soccer fans and dignitaries.

The FIFA Final Draw, which will determine the match schedule for the 32 participating teams in next year’s soccer tournament, will be held at 19:00 on Friday, December 4 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

"About 3 000 international dignitaries and media representatives are expected to attend this milestone event which will be televised live to an estimated 150 million viewers across the globe. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Cape Town to put its best foot forward," says Lesley de Reuck, the City’s Director of 2010 Operations.

"To welcome VIPs at the CTICC, the City of Cape Town will host a ‘Red Carpet’ event as from 16:00. Although the Final Draw ceremony will be closed to the public, the City has organised a one day festival in Long Street where Capetonians can view the Final Draw on large TV screens," says De Reuck.

"Prior to and during the events, several roads will be closed temporarily to enable event organisers and various City and Provincial services to prepare and secure these venues," says De Reuck.

For the Final Draw event at the CTICC, there will be intermittent road closures on the Foreshore in the area of Lower Long Street, Coen Steytler and Cullinan Street, from 09:00 on Monday November 30 to 05:00 on Monday December 7.

For the Long Street Festival, there will be a full closure of Long Street, from Buitensingel to Buiten Street, and Loop Street, from 13:00 on November 30 to 05:00 on December 7.

From 01:00 on December 4 to 12:00 on December 5, there will be road closures in the area bound by Queen Victoria Street, Green Street, Buitensingel, Loop Street and Dorp Street.

Buiten Street, Bloem Street, Pepper Street, Leeuwen Street, Wale Street, Keerom Street and Vredenburg Lane will also be affected.

On-street stopping or parking will not be permitted on Long Street from Buitensingel to Buiten from 17:00 on Sunday 29 November.

Access control measures will enable businesses and residents entry to the affected areas.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these street closures and wish to thank all Capetonians in advance for their co-operation.

"To minimise traffic disruptions, Cape Town Traffic services will be on duty to redirect motorists and pedestrians. There will also be sufficient signage pointing towards alternative routes," he says.

For more information on the Long Street road closures only, please contact 072 324 2476.

Ends

Issued by the Communication Department, City of Cape Town

Media queries:
Lesley de Reuck, Director of 2010 Operations, City of Cape Town, Tel: (021) 401 4001
Pieter Cronjé, 2010 Spokesperson, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 4592 or Cell: 082 465 4965

The Crystal

THE CRYSTAL” - ANOTHER TOWNPLANNING CHALLENGE FOR THE CAMPS BAY RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (CBRRA)CBRRA ?

In recent years, CBRRA has been singularly successful in fighting excessive and unsympathetic developments in Camps Bay and environs.

To date, CBRRA has won five High Court cases against the Cape Town City Council in which it has applied for an urgent interdict for work on a project to be stopped until the High Court could review what it considered to be illegally passed plans on various projects in the area. These projects were on First Crescent, Camps Bay Drive, Geneva Drive, Blinkwater Road and Woodhead Close.

The ultimate success in the various projects have been varied, largely as a result of the City Council’s perceived support for the Developers / Owners.

What generally happened was that, having been interdicted and forced to stop works, Developers submitted rider plans which purported to legalise the project. With two significant exceptions (see one below) the Council almost immediately passed the rider plans and CBRRA was faced with having to reapply for the revised plans to be reviewed – a very expensive exercise and not always successful. The Blinkwater Road case has reached the Appeal Court and the judgement is pending any day now.

As you drive down Camps Bay Drive, just before you get to Woodford Avenue, you will observe on the right hand side, what is arguably one of the biggest structures being erected for forty one flats on the old “Troben Heights” Flats site.

In this instance, the Developer had plans passed in the latter half of 2008 without, in the Council’s opinion, having to have any zoning scheme departures or title deed restrictions modified or removed.

It is CBRRA’s legal opinion that the project illegal in respect of a number of alleged transgressions, namely :

* The building has five in lieu of only the three “floor levels” permitted
in the title deed.

* Certain facades are higher than the zoning scheme permitted 10
metre height above existing natural ground levels at any one point.

* The basement area exceeds the permissible “built upon “ area.

* The project has derogated the value of surrounding affected
properties (an adjacent residence lost a sale as a result of the
erection of the new building and the Seller could only sell
subsequently for ± R400 000 less). This was pointed out in a
written report by Valuer John van der Spuy, as being a striking
transgression of Section 7 of the National Building Regulations.

* Certain isolated retaining walls, erected to legalise the so-called
“basement” by the introduction of earth fill between them and the
basement (contrary to the spirit of the zoning scheme regulations)
are over the permitted zoning scheme heights..

What has compounded the problem, however, is that the Developer submitted rider plans at the beginning of 2009 which altered the design drastically. In September, the Council rejected these rider plans as being illegal, but has permitted the Developer to continue constructing the building not in accordance with the (now incorrect) original passed plans.

Apart from contesting the above issues, CBRRA strongly objects to this situation and has had a crucial meeting to clarify the above matters with the Council and the Developer postponed / cancelled four times by the Council over a period of six weeks - on the pretext that the Council was awaiting legal opinions before responding. It took CBRRA four days to obtain its legal opinions.

Every attempt by CBRRA to convene this meeting with all the top Planning Officials / Politicians has proved absolutely fruitless. In the meantime, the Developer is proceeding apace with the construction and this is a situation where clearly the Council appears to be on the side of the Developer and not the hugely affected neighbours or the community at large.

This experience supports the Peoples’ Post’s recent article which highlighted the unacceptable manner in which the City Planning Department conducts its duties in respect of planning matters.

Trudi Groenewald
Chairperson
CBRRA

Objection to Proposed Cellular Base Station

Objection to Proposed Cellular Base Station on Erf 4 Camps Bay Beachfront by Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (CBRRA).

SUBMITTED TO THE GOOD HOPE SUBCOUNCIL ON 19 NOVEMBER 2009

Thank you Mr, Chairman for this opportunity to object to your committee in respect of this proposal.

We have perused the highly detailed justification from the applicant and the Council officials as to why the base station should be allowed.

CBRRA is astounded that, although the Council has just proudly and widely announced that the centre portion of Camps Bay beach is now to again become an internationally recognised Blue Flag Beach with all the worthy qualities required for it to become so, it now proposes to place at a very low level a new cellular base station and mast in the very same area !

I would hazard a guess that this must be the first Blue Flag beach in the world with such an added attraction. You can imagine the public outcry when this fact becomes general knowledge.

So attractive is this installation that the financially well-healed applicant has offered to place a public bench and planters nearby which not only looks out at absolutely nothing but is situated within the five metre radius which the Council has stated must be a no-go area !

If there is absolutely no danger, why is there a 5m access restriction by the Council which the above park bench ignores.

Mr Chairman, much is made by your Council Officials and the Applicant that there is “a lack of scientific evidence to suggest that there is a health risk associated with cellular base stations. Both international and local medical and environmental authorities including Council’s Medical Officer of Health, are of this opinion”. This is a nice general spin statement which covers all and is intended to crush all contentions to the contrary.

It is CBRRA’s contention that the onus is NOT on the objectors to prove that the installation is dangerous, but that it is on the Council and the Applicant to produce irreversible proof and test results that such installations are NOT dangerous to humans, animals and plant life in any form or at any distance whatsoever.

If they are not dangerous, why does the Council want to impose a distance restriction and why did it reject the recent application for a similar installation on erf 355 in February 2004 (Application 152379) at Marine Heights Flats in Upper Tree Road Camps Bay ?

I would like to table a photo of the density of people which congregates around this building on occasions and I would like your Council and the Applicant to look me straight in the eye and guarantee unconditionally, without any shadow of a doubt, that not one of these people will ever suffer from the harmful effects of this installation.

Of course you cannot, otherwise why is the Council putting conditions such as ;

Should any further research link electromagnetioc radiation to health issues, this approval may be revised.

There is therefore some niggling doubt in the Council’s mind that something may not be entirely quite right and it is keeping its options open in case things go wrong. In the meantime, the public is at risk, no matter how small and this is not good enough for CBRRA.

I also wish to hand in 14 pages of research which contends that this type of installation IS harmful to humans, gathered from all around the world.

With the greatest respect, Mr. Chairman, I query your Subcouncil’s credentials to be the ultimate judges as to whether there should be a cellular base station in this position or not. It is not your fault that you are not qualified to make this ultimate final or semi-final judgement.

CBRRA accordingly hereby urgently requests that this application becomes the subject of an EIA public procedure process and also the necessary procedures which have to be executed in terms of the new Act / Bylaw which has recently been promulgated which requires an equally rigorous public participation process particularly on buildings which are situated within 100 metres of the sea shoreline.

Aesthetically we are going to be faced with an industrial installation, surrounded by a 2m high fence and razor wire on arguably one of Cape Town’s most picturesque beaches , which will also need maintenance and possibly vehicles travelling over the lawns to and from the area.

The other real problem, as you will readily acknowledge, Mr. Chairman, is that, let Vodacom onto this building, you will immediately get applications from MNnet and Cell C and what justifications will you have to refuse their applications as well ?. This will result in even more unsightly and yet more possibly dangerous installations appearing around the building in the future.

CBRRA fully understands the Applicant’s eagerness to provide an ever-better service (remembering always that this is ultimately always to increase profits and overcome competition) but fails to accept that this site is the only site which will solve its problems. It must therefore investigate other sites which are further away from human habitation or use – especially one as congested as this. Living and health standards cannot be subordinated to aspirations for commercial gain. There are plenty of ither open sites available.

Please therefore, Mr. Chairman, reject this application just as you rejected the previous (and hopefully the next) Upper Tree Road application for a cellular base station.

John Powell
For CBRRA

Heritage Site on Auction

Please note the date for the Stone Cottage Auction is on
19 November at the Grand Westin Hotel.

CBRRA CAMPAIGNS TO ENSURE THEIR PRESERVATION



Read the full article ‹‹here››

Savile Row Auctions announced that its inaugural Cape Town auction will to be held on 19 November at The Grand Westin Foreshore in Cape Town.

The auction will offer a unique opportunity to the discerning property buyer with seven original stone cottages coming under the hammer.

Kim Faclier, Managing Director of the Savile Row Auctions Cape Town operation comments, "The cottages are more than 100 years old and have significant value in terms of their heritage. Based on research done and correspondence with the Camps Bay Rate Payers Association the property is protected as a heritage site under section 34 of the NHR Act as well as a Grade 3 (b) grading as per the Karin Strom survey."

Situated at the intersection of Camps Bay and Geneva Drive, the property enjoys prime locality to the Camps Bay beachfront as well as its CBD commercial area.

1-5 Geneva Drive is a freehold property that is a single erf improved with three separate dwelling cottages. The size of the erf is 887sqm and each cottage is approximately 85sqm. Cottages comprise of three bedrooms, outbuildings and a covered stoep.

13-19 Camps Bay Drive is also a freehold property that is a single erf improved with four separate dwellings. The stand is 707sqm and each cottage is approximately 70sqm. These are one bedroom cottages which include a covered stoep and staff quarters.

"As such, this beautiful property will appeal to a very specific type of buyer – a buyer that has an interest in heritage sites and has a passion for wanting to restore these historic homes to their original glory," says Faclier.

For more information contact Kim Faclier on 082 554 6295.

Article from property24.com

Public Meeting Announcement

AGENDA

• Welcome and Chairperson’s Report
  Trudi Groenewald
• Approval of Minutes of last CBRRA General Meeting on 23 February 2009
• Municipal Ward Boundary Delimitation
  Cllr Margo Haywood
• Presentation by Camps Bay Community Medics
• Roundhouse Development
  John Powell
• Animal By-Laws
  Trudi Groenewald
• Safety & Security
• Police Station & Security Huts
  John Powell
• Financial Report
• Approval of Annual Financial Statements Dated 31 December 2009
• Amendments to the CBRRA Constitution
• New July 2009 Municipal Rates Valuation (Meeting With the City Valuation Dept)
  John Powell
• Planning Matters (Unicity Spatial Planning District Plans )
  John Powell
• High Court Cases
  Chris Willemse
  – Oudekraal
  – Geneva Drive
  – Blinkwater Roads
• Any Other Business

For apologies and formal notifications of questions to be added to the agenda, please contact CBRRA on 021 438 8784 or e-mail campsbayratepayers@gmail.com


Read more about the topics for the meeting below:

THE ROUNDHOUSE
The Roundhouse has been redeveloped into two restaurants. The concessionaires now wish to redevelop the adjacent Stan’s Halt building into a small boutique hotel with attached lodge premises. CBRRA and "the Friends of the Glen" are keeping a watch on proposals which, in due course, will be shown to the public at large for comment and approval.

MUNICIPAL RATES
The City Council has just completed its July 2009 municipal property rates revaluation throughout the Unicity. A new provisional Valuation Roll will be published in January 2010 – ratepayers will be given until April 2010 to object and new rates bills, based on the revised valuations, will be sent out in July 2010 subject to objection adjustments if any.

NEW MUNICIPAL WARD BOUNDARIES
The Delimitation Board has published its proposed new ward boundary maps for public comment by December 2009. These have serious consequences for Camps Bay. It is proposed to again split Camps Bay and environs (in the vicinity of the soccer field) so that part will remain with Camps Bay, Bakoven, Llandudno and Hout Bay as the constituency of Cllr Marga Haywood while the other part will be merged with the Sea Point constituency of Cllr J-P Smith. CBRRA considers this a very retrograde step and wishes to test public opinion.

ANIMAL BY-LAWS
The City of Cape Town has finalised is draft Animal By-Law. Several improvements have been proposed. A full copy of the draft by-law is included in the CBRRA blog ‹‹here››.

OUDEKRAAL
A property group has obtained an option to buy on the Kassie Wiehahn-owned Oudekraal estate stretching from Camps Bay to Llandudno. Since then Mr Wiehahn has lost another High Court case to restore his development rights on his above property. CBRRA hopes to report on the status of the option. See the full High Court judgement on the CBRRA blog ‹‹here››.

Read the proposed amendments to the CBRRA Constitution ‹‹here››.

Save the 100yr+ old Camps Bay Tramway Cottages

CBRRA CAMPAIGNS TO ENSURE THEIR PRESERVATION




The auction sale boards have been erected on some of Camps Bay’s most historically important cottages at the intersection of Geneva Drive and Camps Bay Drive. The sale is due on 19 November 2009 and CBRRA is busy alerting the media, all residents and the heritage authorities which have jurisdiction over the preservation of these magnificent relics of the unique tramline which passed through Camps Bay for the first three decades of the last century. 



Not many residents are even aware of the existence of this amazing tourist facility which existed at the very inception of the modern history of this beautiful suburb. (See History of Camps Bay ). 

These houses were built by the Tramway Company for their drivers and staff. They were about the first houses built in “modern” Camps Bay in the early 1900’s simultaneously with the Rotunda Ballroom (now a part of the Bay Hotel), the timber Norwegian cottages in Crown Crescent and Camps Bay Drive (the latter now demolished), the tram shed and power station (which is now the Theatre on the Bay and Brighton Court) and the seawater warmed indoor swimming pool next to last on link Street (now demolished).



These houses therefore have an irreplaceable history which it is imperative to preserved forever into the future. The demolition or alterations thereof to any parts of their facades must never be permitted.

 CBRRA recognises the present and future owners’ rights to dispose of their ownership to others, but any future sale must be on condition and legally binding on new owners that the demolition of or external modifications to any or all of these houses will never be permitted. 



After consulting the Town Planner Tommy Brummer, CBRRA has gone about this campaign as described in the extracts from letters between it and the relevant authorities and persons as follows: 




From: Tommy Brummer 

To: Chris Snelling 

Sent: Thursday, 8 October 2009 



Dear Chris 
 We discussed the stone cottages on the lower reaches of Geneva Drive, Camps Bay, yesterday. Please confirm that the best strategy for the CBRRA to take is to write to Heritage Western Cape advising it that the cottages are being sold on auction shortly and that if any applications for demolition or alterations are submitted, then such applications must be advertised to the CBRRA. In addition it would be a good idea to inform the auctioneer of the fact that the buildings are graded and protected heritage assets. 


Regards 

Tommy Brümmer 




From : Chris Snelling

To: Tommy Brummer 

Sent : Friday 9 October 2009



Hi Tommy,


Your e-mail and our telephonic discussion refers:


The Stone Cottages in Geneva Drive Camps Bay are essentially already protected in terms of Section 34 of the National Heritage Resources Act.

 As far as I am aware, indeed I am fairly certain that they have been afforded the Grading of the equivalent of either IIIB or possibly IIIA by the City of Cape Town and are listed as such in the survey that Karin Strom conducted for the City back in the 1990's.

 They, (the cottages), are of both architectural merit and certainly have high historic significance in regard to the history of Camps Bay. Indeed along with the Rotunda and the " Swiss", (Norwegian), wood cottages they are probably the most significant and landmark structures in the area.



Given the properties are at this stage only going up for auction it is difficult to give better advice in regard to the concerns as you have raised. Certainly at this stage one could not question the intent of any party wishing to purchase or bid for the properties and in this regard it would be difficult if not impossible for HWC to consider any form of formal provisional protection in terms of Section 29 of the NHR Act.

 It would however not be a bad idea to contact the Auctioneers and alert them to the significance of the structures and to inform them that demolition of the structures would be out of the question, (certainly in my opinion) and that any plans to alter or add to the buildings would entail having to get the consent of Heritage Western Cape to do so.

Such proposals are also likely to be strictly scrutinized.

 I would also advise the Ratepayers to put any concerns they may have in a formal letter to HWC, and ask that if any plans are submitted to HWC in regard to the building that they be notified immediately. Indeed, given the Ratepayers are registered with HWC as having an interest in the area this would be required by law in any event. It still would not hurt to write a formal letter in any event.

I trust this is of assistance.

Kind

Regards.

Chris Snelling




From : CBRRA 

To : Heritage Western Cape – Mr. M Abrahams, 
Mr. Ralph Bruch – Owner, 
Ms Kim Faclier - Saville Row, 
Mr Johan Cornelius – City of Cape Town Environmental and Heritage Management 
Sent : 19 October 2009

CAMPS BAY RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (CBRRA)

Heritage Western Cape 

Attention : Mr. M. Abrahams
 


Dear Sirs, 



EXISTING PROPERTIES AT 1, 3 & 5 GENEVA DRIVE (ERF 178) AND 13, 15, 17 & 19 CAMPS BAY DRIVE (ERF 177), CAMPS BAY, CAPE



The Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (CBRRA) has recently been informed that the above seven historic cottages are due to be auctioned for sale shortly, on 17 November 2009. 
 While CBRRA fully understands that no future potential buyers are, as yet, known and therefore cannot be contacted in respect of these purchases, this letter serves to inform you that CBRRA and the Camps Bay population consider these particular properties to be of great historical and architectural value to the heritage of Camps Bay and environs, due to their age and importance in the early history of the area. 
 


Any application in the future by any present or future owner of any or all of the buildings for the demolition of or alterations to the external facades of any or all of the buildings will be forcefully opposed by CBRRA and the local population by any means possible, legal or otherwise. 


CBRRA refers you to the correspondence below between Planner Tommy Brummer and Heritage Consultant Chris Snelling, in which it seems to be that these buildings may already well have some form of protection in terms of Section 24 of the National Heritage Resources Act. 


CBRRA respectfully hereby requests that you inform it whether this is so and, if so, the actual details of such legal protection, in order that it may inform the present Owner and the prospective Auctioneer of such facts so that they can inform all prospective buyers thereof before any sales are transacted.

Should no legal protection exist, can you kindly inform CBBRA as to how it may organise or apply for same, either now or in the future when or if demolition / alteration applications are submitted to you. 
 


Should any such applications be made to you in the future, CBRRA requests being informed thereof without any delay, in order that it may register its objections thereto to you timeously.
 


Furthermore, CBRRA will appreciate you advising it how it can ensure, now or at the time of any future demolition application which may be submitted to you, how it, local residents and others can successfully oppose such application(s).
 


As the proposed auction sale is scheduled to take place on 17 November 2009, you can appreciate that this enquiry is of extreme urgency and CBRRA will appreciate your earliest possible reply to this matter. It will be willing to attend any meetings with you and / or any other relevant affected authorities in order that total clarity on the processes needed for opposition against demolition / external alterations can be properly obtained by CBRRA on behalf of the population in Camps Bay and elsewhere. 
 


Yours faithfully, 
 

Trudi Groenewald

Chairperson

CBRRA


From : CBRRA 

To : Heritage Western Cape – Mr. M Abrahams
, Mr. Ralph Bruch – Owner
, Ms Kim Faclier - Saville Row
, Mr Johan Cornelius – City of Cape Town Environmental and Heritage Management 
Sent : 19 October 2009



CAMPS BAY RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS 
ASSOCIATION (CBRRA)

Mr. Ralph Bruch,

Owner of the existing properties listed below, 
 Camps Bay
 C/o
 Saville Row Auctioneers

Attention : Ms. Kim Faclier
 


Dear Sirs / Madam
 

EXISTING PROPERTIES AT 1, 3 & 5 GENEVA DRIVE (ERF 178) AND 13, 15, 17 & 19 CAMPS BAY DRIVE (ERF 177), CAMPS BAY, CAPE
 


The Camps Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (CBRRA) hereby refers you to the correspondence below sent simultaneously with this letter to the relevant Heritage Authorities in connection with the pending proposed sale by your Client, Mr. Bruch, by auction of the above properties, about which CBRRA has recently been informed. 
 


CBRRA and residents fully recognise the present Owner’s absolute right to dispose of the properties in question to whomever and in whatever manner he wishes. 
 
However, it is important to record here CBRRA’s and residents’ concerns that the sale could result in applications being made by the present or future Owners for the demolition of some or all of the above existing buildings or for permission to alter the external facades thereof. 
 


CBRRA hereby wishes to inform you, the present Owner and the prospective Auctioneer, of its and the local population’s opposition to such applications which may be made in the future. It hereby requests that all prospective purchasers of the properties be properly informed before and at the proposed auction sale of the opposition to any such applications which will emanate from CBRRA and the local population and others should they, in due course, be made. 
 


You will appreciate that, other than the Theatre On The Bay structure, these houses are the last vestiges of that portion of Camps Bay’s history which featured the unique tramline from central Cape Town to Camps Bay over Kloof Nek and back via Sea Point from about 1900 to 1930. The houses in question housed the drivers and staff of the trams and it will be absolutely unthinkable that they be damaged in any manner whatsoever at any time in the future. 
 


CBRRA has researched the degree of heritage protection which the buildings currently enjoy and wishes to enforce all such protection which currently exists. CBRRA is willing to meet with the Owner’s representative and the prospective Auctioneer to discuss this matter at any time in order that all parties understand the issues at stake. 
 


Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and inform CBRRA that the prospective buyers will informed as requested above. 
 


Yours faithfully, 
 

Trudi Groenewald

Chairperson

CBRRA




From : Kim Faclier of Saville Row

Dear John

Thank you very much for the call and this email, the contents all of which noted.

 I fully respect these gorgeous properties and no need to worry - the Heritage status will be totally protected in terms of clients requesting information as per the Bidder’s Information which we’ve done.

 As the owner of # 8 The Fairway, Camps Bay, know that I am totally on-board.

 Attached kindly find an invite to the auction for you all.


Warm wishes and take care; 


Kim




From : Johan Cornelius

To : All

Sent : Tuesday 20 October 2009


Dear All
 
 The 4 e-mails above refer.
 We want to confirm that the buildings in question are all older than 60 years and therefore protected under section 34 of the NHR Act as stated by Chris Snelling and they enjoy a Grade 3 (b) grading as per the Karin Strom survey. Further to this, our section fully supports the contents of the e-mails below. In fact, it would also be helpful to bring Chris's letter, which explains the significance of the building, to the attention of the auctioneers

Best regards.

Johan Cornelius

Environmental & Heritage Management

Table Bay District

City of Cape Town

Residents can assist by writing to the above authorities to support CBRRA’s efforts to preserve these buildings.