GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality has issued a statement concerning an “informal” cricket pitch that was recently established in Conville on a piece of open municipal ground.
While the municipality recognises that cricket is a favoured sport in this area, and realises the need for such amenities for the children of the area, it stressed that this is not the way to go about it.
The community should be aware that following a certain process in such matters will only be to their benefit. “A piece of ground that belongs to a government entity cannot be appropriated and changed in any way to suit the purposes of a few residents,” reads the statement.
The Directorate of Community Services has for a while been looking into establishing a multi-terrain sporting ground in this neighbourhood, which would provide an all-terrain pitch for different types of sport to be played, including cricket, 5-a-side soccer and so on.
Safety
George Mayor Leon van Wyk, together with Deputy Mayor Charlotte Clark and Councillor Sean Snyman, visited the site recently. Van Wyk noted that the “informal pitch”, as it is now, poses a safety threat for those who play on it as well as neighbouring residents. “Standing on the field, you realise the risk to residents and their homes,” he said.
A municipally established sporting ground would also be safe for the community. Following due process would ensure that projects such as these can be functional and address the needs of the community safely.
He stressed that communities must participate in ward committee meetings and raise their needs during public participation actions. “These processes are the link between the municipality and our residents, and we need the public to participate to be able to identify the best solution for this field and then take into account what our residents are saying…,” he said.
“If a child were to fall and hurt themselves while playing on it, who would be responsible for this? We need community buy in for a sports terrain as well as a play park.”
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