Construction on the controversial Chapman’s Peak toll plaza was suspended and a “breakthrough” meeting is expected to take place.
|||Construction on the controversial Chapman’s Peak office block was suspended on Wednesday and a “breakthrough” meeting between civil rights groups and other stakeholders is expected to take place on Thursday.
The temporary suspension comes in the wake of a groundswell of public opposition – from petitions, protests, hunger strikes and looming legal action – to the construction of the R54 million toll plaza office on Chapman’s Peak Drive.
The Department of Transport and Public Works and Civil Rights Action Group (Crag) confirmed construction had been halted over concern for the safety of two women who chained themselves to the scaffolding at the site on Wednesday.
Work on the site has also been put aside while Crag, the department, construction company Murray and Roberts and toll operator Entilini meet to discuss alternative tolling methods to be presented by Crag.
Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle said yesterday: “Construction has been temporarily stopped for the purpose of holding a meeting and for concern over the two ladies at the site. There have always been extensive discussions with myself and some Crag members. They have proposals and we are prepared to listen to them and so is Entilini and we are prepared to put work aside for this meeting.”
In a bid to halt construction, Hout Bay resident Charlie Gorton, 31, and Fiona Hinds, 49, from Simon’s Town handcuffed themselves to steel support structures where two cement pillars were to be made. The two arrived before dawn wearing construction hats, reflective jackets, gloves and each carrying a colourful flower.
“We’re not moving until they listen to us,” Hinds shouted as workers arrived on site.
Gorton said she knew drastic measures were needed in order for them to be heard.
“I’m Buddhist and very concerned about nature. I realised meditating and fasting could only do so much and that’s when I decided I would chain myself to the scaffolding,” said Gorton, who began a hunger strike three days ago, joining fellow activist Bronwen Lankers-Byrne, who enters her 12th day on a hunger strike on Thursday.
Workers continued to knock re-enforcement poles onto the support structure to which Gorton was handcuffed.
Hinds said: “The building they want for this site is too big and won’t fit so they will have to destroy our heritage site. There are other options that have been put forward that will cost less and be more appropriate.”
More than four hours into the protest, Hector Eliott, head of the Transport and Public Works provincial ministry, arrived and asked the women to leave the site peacefully.
But they refused to move and were still on the site late on Wednesday, saying they would continue their action on Thursday until a satisfactory outcome emerged from the meeting.
Stakeholders are now hoping to resolve the impasse.
Crag’s Terry Wyner said: “Carlisle said if we can show him other options without any legal and financial implications then he would listen to our proposal. In other words he thinks there is merit in talking about this some more. He said we should be talking to Murray and Roberts as well. I spoke to the CEO of Murray and Roberts and they agreed to listen to our proposal.”
The agenda for today’s meeting will be the proposal for a more modern and cost-effective tolling system.
If the stakeholders choose to reject the proposal they have to state their reasons in writing to Crag within 24 hours.
Crag is proposing that a tolling boom requiring minimal assistance be erected instead of the R54m development.
“This could be up and running in a very short space of time. As for Entilini’s offices, there is plenty of space in Hout Bay and with that kind of money they can find a big space. The focus for us is to get them to look at an alternative plan and something which will be a win-win situation,” Wyner said.
The Hout Bay Residents Association were uncertain whether they would attend the meeting.
Chairman Len Swimmer said: “If the genuine decision makers are there and the meeting is going to bring about intervention and negotiations then we will be there. But we are not interested in a talk shop. We are long past the point of talking.”
Late yesterday children from the environmental club at Hout Bay High School sang to the protesters. - Cape Times
zara.nicholson@inl.co.za
