The plans for the new bus terminus and toilet block at the intersection of Bathurst and High Streets are still going ahead as far as Makana Municipality is concerned, despite criticism from members of the public.
The plans for the new bus terminus and toilet block at the intersection of Bathurst and High Streets are still going ahead as far as Makana Municipality is concerned, despite criticism from members of the public.
Makana Municipal spokesperson Thandy Matebese says the main objection comes from the Commemoration Methodist Church via a member of the church's property trust committee, Advocate Jock McConnachie. The church is located opposite the traffic island at the top of Bathurst Street, which is the proposed location for the bus terminus.
Their objection is that the area of the proposed bus terminus is an historical area and any structure there will have a negative impact to the aesthetics of the area and the church. The municipality viewed that some of the objectives could be adequately addressed through architectural and engineering designs as well as the development and implementation of a proper management plan for the facility.
"As things stand at the moment, people stand at night waiting for buses," Matebese said. He added that Grahamstown is promoted as a tourist destination and an education centre, while people have to wait on the streets and compromise their safety. He said that they will continue to see this through as the safety of the people in Makana cannot be compromised for the aesthetic value of buildings. "Since when did the buildings become more important than the people?" he asked.
Responding to to suggestions from the public that the terminus be located at the old railway station, Matebese says: "People refer the municipality to the old railway station. We have explored that one." He added that the railway station is owned by Transnet and that they are not in the position to transfer the station to the municipality. "It's not just about the bus station, toilets are needed in the centre of the town. It's one of our competencies as a municipality to provide public toilets to the public."
He said that many shoppers who do not have own vehicles to drive home to use the toilet. Matebese added that public toilets in a central area will assist in making a conducive environment for a festival town such as Grahamstown. "This process now can be stalled by these objections. In Victoria Road, the municipality wants to bring services to the people, we can't do it as it is the Methodist Church again."
Matebese explained that there are people residing on a piece of land belonging to the Methodist Church situated in Fingo Village who cannot receive basic municipal services because the church refuses to hand over the land to the municipality.
He added that the National Methodist Church has expressed their willingness to go ahead with the transfer, but the local branch has refused to let go of the land. "It's really a sad turn of events, that two important events cannot go ahead because of the Methodist Church. It might not be today, but the toilets and bus terminus will be built in the CBD and not on the outskirts, as it belongs to everyone. The development of this town must continue, we cannot preserve the architecture at the expense of the people and the development of Makana," Matebese said.
McConnachie responded that "The problem in Victoria Road has got nothing at all to do with the bus terminus issue and the 'branch' of the Methodist Church involved is not the Commemoration Methodist Church." He said that there has never been any question that Grahamstown requires a proper bus terminus but it needs to be properly located.
"Public toilets are also much needed but five toilets will do little to ease the problem and they are, in any event, intended for bus passengers and are going to be lock-up, pay toilets. The municipality is trying to use the public toilet issue as a pretext to push its plans through but does nothing to publicise the existence of existing public toilet facilities such as off Knight Street."
McConnachie said that the church is concerned how the facility will be managed as he says the municipality has a reputation for mismanagement. He added that the opposition to the location of the proposed bus terminus is growing and the problem is that Grahamstown doesn't have a town planner at present so the municipality is ignoring town planning principles.
"The Commemoration Church is a national monument and the proposed development is situated within the municipality's own conservation area. It shows scant respect for either consideration," he said.
