HermanusTimes

The department of environmental affairs and tourism has given the environmental go-ahead for the Hermanus CBD Relief Road Project after taking engineering, environmental and heritage reports into account.

The relief road construction involves the upgrading of several existing roads in the Hermanus CBD to allow for more efficient traffic flow.

An economic feasibility study conducted in 2008 by Jeffares and Green (Pty) Ltd found that vehicle operating costs and the likelihood of accidents on CBD roads will decrease as a result of the proposed road upgrade. It also concluded that the proposed design will allow for free-flowing traffic to avoid congestion in the CBD and improve access areas to the east and west of the CBD without delays due to control measures, pedestrians and on-street parking movements.

In 1990, the Hermanus structure plan made provision for what was then termed a “bypass” of the CBD area. The bypass followed an alignment along Spence St, Royal St and Lord Roberts St. The 2008 study concluded this plan would best meet the objectives of a CBD relief road.

Construction phase impacts will mainly consist of increased noise, dust and disruptions to traffic flow in the CBD area. Construction vehicles and heavy machinery will be the main source of noise during the construction phase of the proposed activity. Noise impacts associated with general construction activities will be limited to office hours of between 9:00 and 17:00. Higher traffic levels and therefore increased traffic noise is expected during the operational phase of construction but will be localised and of short-term duration.

A proper public participation process had been undertaken including an advertisement containing details of the proposed activity and inviting interested and affected parties (?I&APs?) to register. A background information document (BID) was posted to the list of I&APs, Heritage Western Cape was contacted for comment and BID's were hand-delivered to all residents and occupiers of properties within 100 metres of the proposed relief road. An open day and public meeting were held in May 2008.

Key issues and concerns raised by the I&APs in the Basic Assessment Report included mainly comments on access, alternatives, construction impacts, economic feasibility, heritage issues, parking and landowner negotiations. The department felt that all issues had been adequately addressed.

It has however come to the Hermanus Times' attention that a resident from Eastcliff, Graham Greathead, also a vehement opposer of the Checkers development at the station site, has sent e-mails to all the people who attended the public meeting in May, with conveniently attached forms to appeal against the department's go-ahead for the relief road.