Have your say on plan to widen the WID

Wynberg residents have until midnight on Thursday to reject or adopt a proposal to extend a city improvement district into Wynberg Village.

The city improvement district (CID), also known as special ratings area (SRA), is a non-profit company that, for a fee, offers “top-up” cleaning and security services to those supplied by the municipality.

The Wynberg Improvement District (WID) was established in October 2000 to revitalise the Wynberg CBD. It works with City cleansing and law enforcement departments, SAPS, and the Old Wynberg Village Society, and according to Wynberg Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association Committee member Philippa Duncan, it has made a clear difference in the areas it covers.

Six WID security officers patrol the area on foot on weekdays and four on weekends, and two vehicles patrol the area 24/7. The WID employs 10 cleaners during the week and at least two on weekends and public holidays. And an urban management company runs a control room overseeing operations.

The WID includes properties on either side of the Main Road, bounded by Riverstone and Wetton roads in the north and Park and Constantia roads in the south. Another WID area falls on the opposite side of Maynardville Park, bounded by Carr Hill Road to Lonsdale Road and Waterloo Road up to Mortimer Road.

According to mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews, the proposed extension would push the boundary from Piers Road in the north and then along Devonshire, Wellington and Lionel roads to form the western boundary up to Constantia Road, which forms the southern boundary. From Constantia Road, the eastern boundary follows the existing western boundary along Flemming, Wilson, and Tenby roads.

The extended area is mostly residential, and the WID steering committee will need at least 60% support from property owners to lodge an application before council has the final say.

Mr Andrews said the same fee for the existing WID would apply to the extended section. The proposed monthly rate for the new financial year is R130 per R1million of the municipal valuation for homes and R319 per R1million for non-residential properties.

Ms Duncan said the WRRA supported the extension of the WID into Wynberg Village because of petty crime in the area. The WRRA realised the area had a wide variety of incomes and that the cost of the WID was “potentially daunting”, but the long-term benefits would result in improved property values.

Find consent forms at wynbergid.co.za. Email completed forms to wynbergidboundaryextension@gmail.com or call 083 414 0451 for collection.