Reportback on the Liquor Licence Objection Campaign

We wouldlike to thank all those who participated in the Objection Meeting on Wednesday, 21 July 2010. 275 objections were signed and submitted to the liquor board and the lawyers handling the application. We will keep you updated on the progress of this as soon as we know more. If you’re on Facebook, join the group – I love Parkhurst, for more regular updates.

As you saw, when we come together as a community we are a strong force to be reckoned with. This is what has made Parkhurst the neighbourhood it is and why we stay and why we buy here. It’s important for our families and to retain our quality of life as well as our property values, that we maintain this connection as a community.

The meeting you attended was arranged by 8 of your neighbours, who come together as the PVRA committee. These people have been elected to be the eyes and ears of the suburb to protect the quality of life we have in Parkhurst. In order to engage the objection action, there were over 75 emails exchanged, and on average 12 hours work per committee member last week. It’s a job each person volunteers for. They do whatever they can do to retain the spirit and community within our suburb.

You can contribute in a way too that doesn’t require hours of time that you might not have. Printing, administration and communication to the neighbourhood costs and so if you haven’t contributed your annual fee to the PVRA, please take the opportunity to do your bit by signing a debit order. The fee is R240 per year, and this can be arranged by registering at www.parkhurst.org.za

If you want to contribute your time, your help would be welcome. Please contact me with your area of expertise, where you think you could help and I’ll get back to you.

Cheryl Labuschagne,PVRA Chairman, 083-637-0394, info@parkhurst.org.za

PS. Below is map with the Parkhurst objectors plotted (the black rectangle in the middle is the site of the old BP Garage). There is also a graph showing objectors by street. Note that the ONLY street with no objectors was 2nd.

Reportback on Meeting to Object to 6 New Liquor Licenses at BP Garage in 4th Ave

164 people (mostly residents) attended the urgent meeting to find out more about the application for 6 new liquor licenses at the old BP Garage premisis in 4th Avenue (opposite the block that contains Nice on 4th and the Parkhurst Bookshop).  The developers did not attend, but they had their paid representative, Kim Lugli, in attendance.

Cllr. Sharon Sabbagh spoke to the group about her experiences of what has been happening in Melville and Greenside as well as what could happen in Parkhurst if we get more restaurants. 100s more people from outside Parkhurst will descend on our suburb from 10am to 2am. Parking will be a problem along with noise and other disturbances, especially for residents near the development.

The main point to note is that if you don't get in your objection NOW, then it will be too late when the liquor board meets in a month or so time. It will be a long battle and the developer may well still get the licenses, but we will be able to impose certain restrictions that we can then hold the restaurants to.

The meeting was also addressed by Jo of Espresso Cafe - she and her husband are the only Parkhurst restauranteurs who also live in Parkhurst. She expressed the conflicts she feels being a resident and restauranteer. Of trying to be responsive to residents needs and how difficult it is to stick to the rules and be a "good" business. She came out against so many new restaurants, especially as the owners/managers will probably not be residents and may not really care about Parkhurst and their surrounding residents.

New Meter Readers

The new meter reader company in Parkhurst is now Rubby Tad. People can call 011-494-2917 for info. They can fax their readings to 011-494-2926 or email rubby-tad@mweb.co.za around the 20-25th of each month. They will need to include their name, acc # and meter #.

Public Meeting: 6 New Liquor License Applications in 4th Ave

The Parkhurst Village Residents Association is hosting an urgent meeting to discuss the 6 new liquor license applications for the old BP Garage site in 4th Ave. It is on Wednesday 21 July @ 7pm, Parkhurst Primary.

The PVRA Statement and Agenda are below. For more info, contact the Chair: Cheryl 083-637-0394 / publicspaces@parkhurst.org.za

Response to Kim Lugli's Letter in the Rosebank and Killarney Gazette

The original letter was published under the headline: "RSDF has Changed" and continues...

The Gazette's article last week entitled Court case opinions clash, left out a crucial point. The Parkhurst Village Residents Association (PVRA) bases its argument against. more restaurants, on the outdated Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) from 2004. This states 'No more coffee shops and restaurants to be supported along 4th Avenue.' However, that same point on the updated 2009/2010 RSDF has been revised to read `Coffee bars and restaurants to be restricted to 4th Avenue.' The PVRA cannot base a court case on outdated legislation. I also need to state categorically that the RSDF was not drafted by the PVRA and I refer to my letter, published in June 2009, which I believe made the entire RSDF process clear to your readers. I would like it noted that my facts are drawn from detailed documentation drawn from my records kept on the matter.

The PVRA's reponse to this letter is:

Kim Lugli in her recent letter in the Gazette is misleading the public when she states that the court case by the Parkhurst Village Residents Association (PVRA) against Michael Capela is based on the outdated Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) from 2004. The case is based on the provision of the 2008/9 RSDF (which was the one applicable on 13 March 2009, when Mr Capela applied to the City Council for a licence for an eleventh restaurant in Fourth Avenue, Parkhurst). The RSDF states ‘No more coffee shops and restaurants to be supported along Fourth Avenue’. None of the legal representatives fighting the case has challenged that as being the applicable provision, which was in any event repeated in the 2009/10 RSDF.

Ms Lugli has made public pronouncements on the case without disclosing that she is a paid consultant to Mr Capela, and that she contributes to his Internet website (see Kim's Corner). She and Brenda Lee, both of whom live well away from Fourth Avenue, appear to be waging a campaign through the letters column of the Gazette to undermine the PVRA’s attempts to block further restaurants along Fourth Avenue, which attempts are unanimously supported by the Governing Committee of the PVRA, by 92 per cent of local residents at the AGM and as was confirmed by a survey in the Gazette last year.

Parkhurst's Xmas in July

Parkhurst's Xmas in July is here again. It is always held on consecutive Thursdays - this year they are 22nd and 29th of July from 5-9pm. It is always good fun and worth a wander, a beer and some warm soup. 

Free Light Bulb Exchange

Until the 26th July, Eskom and City Power are running a programme in Parkhurst whereby you can swop out your old incandescent lightbulbs for a new energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) for FREE.
Click here to find out more.

EIA Notice for Cell C Site: 6356 Parkhurst

Cell C want to put up a Tower and Base Station at Parkhurst Primary.

For more information, please click on the Action Parkhurst menu item and view the document under the EIA Notice section.

Action 12 - Judgement

Click here to view the document under the Judgement section.

Multipurpose Courts

Basketball and Netball court now available to Parkhurst Residents

Click here for more information on the Community project.

State of the Parkhurst Roads

You will be aware that Parkhurst residents have had to endure exceptionally bad – and deteriorating - road conditions over the past few years. The PVRA is hopeful that this situation is coming to an end. After more than two years of chasing the powers that be at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), the PVRA has finally been able to secure a commitment to action from Marcus Naidoo, the JRA’s Executive General Manager of Road Maintenance.

Given the abysmal state of our roads, Mr Naidoo ordered an investigation in Parkhurst and has acknowledged the need for urgent maintenance activity in our suburb. Already the now-infamous First Avenue West trench has been filled in and tarred, with other repairs due to take place over the next three weeks. The PVRA is working with the JRA to ensure that all necessary maintenance is conducted satisfactorily.

In order to ensure that we have not missed any road segments urgently in need of attention, please e-mail any problems of which you are aware to publicspaces@parkhurst.org.zaby the close of business on the 15th of June 2009.

The most pressing problems will relate to the condition of the roads themselves, but we would also like to be informed of missing road signs, poor road markings, blocked storm-water drains and missing manhole covers. In time the issue of pavement obstructions will also be addressed, where safe pedestrian movement is made impossible through construction work or plantings on pavements.

Kind regards,
The PVRA Committee

April 2009 Parkhurst Post

Click here to read it.

Action Parkhurst - No More Restaurants or Bars in 4th Avenue

The decline in our economy has resulting in several business closures in Fourth Avenue, Parkhurst is now in danger of becoming a host for strip of restaurants/ bars and or nightclubs similar to those in 7th Ave in Melville.

For some time, residents understood that the Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) would protect the suburb from a proliferation of restaurants.  The RSDF is an official plan compiled by the City of Johannesburg, having the force of law, which sets out guidelines that must be followed by the Municipality in relation to zoning and land-use applications. Among its stated objectives, in relation to Parkhurst, is the prohibition of encroachment of non-residential uses into the residential area of Parkhurst, with specific reference to commercial and business development along Fourth Avenue.  The RSDF expressly states that no more coffee shops and restaurants will be supported along Fourth Avenue, and this objective is fully supported by the majority of the committee of the Parkhurst Village Residents Association (PVRA).The problem is that there are currently a number of NEW Restaurant applications under review with Council… with more to come!

Click here to read more and make a contribution.

Parkhurst History Section

Tim Truluck is currently uploading the Parkhurst History Section. Lots of info, pics, maps and a whole section on how Parkhurst got its name. This is a work in progress and there will be more historical info added from time to time.  Click here to find out more about our history and what the pictures below are all about.

   

Membership Subscriptions

Subscriptions are paid annually.  It costs R120 PA for pensioners, R240 PA for residential households and R480 PA for businesses. OpenNetworks (Pty) Ltd handle the collection and maintenance of our membership database.

You can pay using the following methods:

• Debit Order
• EFT payments (by special arrangement)

Please contact membership@parkhurst.org.za for further information.

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