Anonymous:
Our prime concern in Remskoen Road is the dust that everybody is exposed to all day long. There are cases of people that suffer from breathing problems and got severely sick because of this.
Speeding that puts the children and animals in danger, especially from the informal settlement opposite Hope Church, is another concern. When it rains the road is almost only accessible by 4-wheel-drive cars, because of the potholes.
The grader that comes every now and then only takes off the topsoil and makes the road even worse when the next rain comes. We have a business up here and sometimes it is very difficult for our guests to access. The indigenous plants and trees also suffer because of the dust.
Liesl Briel:
I have to drive a 4x4 that is heavy on fuel to navigate Remskoen Road. Despite this, I have suffered R15 000 damage to my vehicle's suspension as a direct result of the poor road surface.
When we moved in six years ago, the road was graded twice monthly and now we are fortunate if they come monthly. They always seem to come on the day before big rains which makes the road soft and when it rains, the road instantly turns into a big, muddy pool.
I am including pictures taken of the part of the road at number 346 where the road is badly eroded. In fact, there is no gravel left on that stretch of road and every time the grader comes, it merely scrapes the mud to the side and there is nowhere for the water to go when it rains.
If there is no budget for tarring the road then the municipality could consider paving it like they did Erica Road or at the very least, lay additional G6 gravel to lift the road surface. The municipality's seemingly lack of interest is disconcerting.
Daan Labuschagne:
Remskoenstraat is ongelooflik besig regdeur die jaar vanweë die toeriste-aantreklikheid by Kaart van Afrika asook die valskermswewers se bedrywighede. Van begin November af, is hier selfs luukse-, groot toeristebusse (Paarl Rock) asook kleiner toerbussies wat heen en weer ry na die Kaart toe.
So dit is nie 'n gewone doodloopstraat wat net soggens/saans deur die inwoners gebruik word soos die siviele ingenieursdienste van George-munisipaliteit glo nie.
Die twee grootste probleme waarmee ons inwoners te doen kry, is die konstante, slegte toestand van die straat - sinkplaatpad wat vererger word deur reën - en dan die ewige stof wat in ons huise insif. Ons kan nie meer waag om enige deure/vensters aan die straatkant en selfs kante van die huis oop te maak nie.
Die huidige spoedgrens in die straat is 40 km/h, maar bittermin voertuie, plaaslik/besoekers, steur hulle daaraan. Ek het verskeie voertuie gesien wat uit Heightsweg in Remskoen indraai met 'n spoed en kinders en honde van die kamp wat dan vinnig uit die pad moet padgee.
Daar is 'n draai reg aan die begin van die straat met die gevolg dat bestuurders nie kan sien wat om die draai in die pad gebeur nie. Ek het ook al 'n bosbok gesien wat een nag raakgery is, en net uit die pad gesleep en langs die kant gelos is.
Die straat word wel af en toe geskraap maar dit gee juis die geleentheid vir voertuie, veral bakkies om teen hoë spoed te jaag met die gevolg dat twee dae later, ons inwoners weereens sit met 'n sinkplaatpad met natuurlik meer stof. Dit is jare lank nou al 'n bose kringloop!
Ons vra vir die spoedige teer van Remskoenstraat wat 'n streekbesiens-waardigheid is en so deur die munisipaliteit bemark word.
Indien die straat om een of ander rede nie geteer kan word nie, kan die plavei van Remskoenstraat oorweeg word, soos in Ericastraat gedoen is wat aansienlik minder verkeer dra.
Die aanbring van spoedhobbels/vore oor die hele lengte van die straat sal ook help.
Collin Wildeman, Heights Village-komitee:
Ek is vir meer as 30 jaar woonagtig in Wildernesshoogte. Ek weet van heelwat ongelukke wat in Remskoenstraat plaasgevind het. As dit reën is die pad baie gevaarlik, die voertuie gly en dis glibberig. Die kinders ontvang kos by Erf 333. As die voertuie verbyry, is daar heelwat stof wat in hulle kos beland.
En wanneer dit reën, moet hulle in baie nat toestande die kos gaan haal. Daarom vra ons dat daar so gou as moontlik aan die pad aandag gegee word, en dat dit geteer word. Ons sal dit waardeer indien dit spoedig kan gebeur, aangesien baie toeriste ook die pad gebruik.
Anonymous, Remskoen Road:
Over the last few years, the state of Remskoen road has deteriorated to a point where not only does it become a hazard to drive; but also causes damage to our cars, which I can attest to.
Every four to six weeks the municipality thinks it wise to grade away the top layer of what solid foundation remains and then layer loose sand on top; thinking this will solve the problem. No regard for storm drainage or water runoffs. Come the wind and all that sand blows away. Come the rain and the mud and massive potholes return. Rinse repeat...
Perhaps Remskoen road was once a rural road, but it is not rural anymore. Map of Africa is one of, if not our biggest tourist attractions. Many residents and paragliders rely on Remskoen road for business. How can we expect tourists to come when even locals refuse to come visit due to the state of the road.
With our beautiful panoramic views and untouched indigenous forest, we could attract so much more tourism to the area, however who would want to invest in such activities when a driveable road cannot be guaranteed.
Residents of Remskoen road have been reaching out for a long time to get the municipality to do something about the state of our road; however, our requests are always denied. It is time for everyone to sit down and come to an amicable compromise.
