GEORGE NEWS - Residents in the vicinity of Loch Lomondry Lane in Highlands*, Rooirivierrif, feel as if they're living on a Grand Prix race track. The issue reached boiling point when a beloved pet cat was killed by a speeding vehicle in this street two weeks ago. 

Numerous letters of complaint, which have been sent to George Municipality for feedback, have since reached George Herald.

Loch Lomondry, formerly known as Augusta Street, is commonly used as a thoroughfare by motorists to skip the hustle and bustle of town as it connects CJ Langenhoven with Plattner Boulevard. However, residents of the area feel that it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse.

Most of the residents in the area have either signed a petition or written to the municipality in a plea to stop vehicles from racing through their streets. However, according to residents who spoke to George Herald, very little has been done to assist them.

According to George Traffic Chief Janine Wells, the municipality is currently investigating the matter and will apply law enforcement measures where needed.

When asked about a timeline for the planned law enforcement measures, municipal communications officer Debra Sauer said that the municipality cannot give any more information at this stage.

Residents say that instead of slowing vehicles down, the cobble paving just makes a big noise when cars speed over it.

Disregard for speed limit

The speed limit on Loch Lomondry is 40km/h, but residents say that motorists very rarely stick to it.

"Many animals have been killed here. There are no sidewalks for pedestrians or cyclists and we struggle to get in and out of our driveways because of the constant speeding vehicles racing by. If you show them to slow down, they give you the middle finger," said Suzie Serfontein, the resident whose cat was recently run over.

She says if nothing is going to be done about the issue, she will have no choice but to sell her house and move out of George.

"We pay rates and taxes to the municipality and feel that we have the right to feel safe. All we ask is that the traffic officers do their jobs and maintain the law. Why should we beg people to stick to the speed limit - especially in a residential area. I'm heartbroken about my cat, but what if it were a child?" she said.

Many other letters in the same vein have reached George Herald.

Another couple from the area, Don MacKenzie and Jane MacKenzie-Hoskyn, say residents have been trying to get the municipality to pay attention to the problem, but without any success. 

"My husband has almost been knocked over several times as cars cut corners at high speed. Soon there will be a fatality," she said.

The sections of cobble paving on this road were initially put there to slow vehicles down, but according to residents the only thing the cobbles are good for, is to make a noise when vehicles speed over them.

A lack of suitable pavements is among items on the list of complaints and concerns sent by residents of the area to George Municipality last year.

Municipal investigation

In December last year the municipality responded to letters from residents raising traffic concerns in the area, stating that an investigation was being carried out by the Civil Engineering Services Directorate to assess the extent of the issues raised and to find possible mitigating measures.

In a report back from the municipality to the residents last year, it was found, among other things, that Barkhuizen and King George drives, as well as Loch Lomondry, are classified as class 4 collectors. This means the primary function is to provide balanced mobility and access to the adjacent residential homes and to connect to the main arterials.

Traffic volumes in the area are relatively high during peak hours (more than 700 vehicles per day) and although Loch Lomondry's northern section has some isolated sections that show surface degradation, the report stated that the general pavement condition of these three roads is fair to very good, ie, they pose no immediate danger for vehicles and are being monitored.

It was also found that Barkhuizen, King George and Loch Lomondry do not meet the warrants for the implementation of speed humps, and that driver behaviour is one of the main reasons that prompts requests from the public for traffic calming measures.

By the time of going to print, all of the residents who addressed the issue felt they are being fobbed off as their concerns are not sufficiently dealt with.

*Highlands is the area between Outeniqua Park and the former Rooirivierrif sports grounds. It was also referred to as "Die Bult" in the past.

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