Suburban
Residents of Greencroft have opposed a proposed service station in the suburb saying it is not necessary to have another fuel station as they have enough in the area.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
This follows a second notice of an application for a permit from the City of Harare notifying residents of the proposed service station.
According to the notice of an application for a permit from the city’s director of works, the development of a service station is intended to be carried out on the remainder of plot 6 of Greencroft Estate of Subdivision A and B of Mabelreign (1 Burwell Road, Greencroft, Harare).
“It is proposed to establish offices (with ancillary petrol filling station use) on the above mentioned property situated within a residential zone according to the Operative City of Harare West 2 Town Planning Scheme wherein the proposed use may be permitted through the special consent of the Local Planning Authority.
“The property measures 1, 0144 hectares and the proposed development will utilize septic tanks and soak away for sewer reticulation.
“According to the Act, this application is required to be advertised in the newspaper circulating in the area and owners (of) abutting properties notified in writing before being considered by the Local Planning Authority.
“Any person wishing to make objections or representations relating to the application must lodge them with the undersigned within one month of the date of the first insertion of this notice,” reads part of the notice.
Commenting on the move, Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers’ Association provincial chairman for Harare, Mr Lawrence Kuleya said council should desist from ‘forcing developments in inappropriate areas.
“Greencroft has enough service stations. Residents don’t need them and why even suggest or propose a service station in a residential area or street?
“This is poor town planning,” he said.
Mr Kuleya said residents have strongly objected to the proposal for another service station and still object to it.
There are three service stations close to each other at the shopping centre.
“This proposed service station will be the fourth in a radius of around 500 metres,” he said.
Residents who spoke to Suburban also objected to the development citing the fact that there were several service stations already in the area.
“This proposal was once done and we rejected it because we have so many service stations in our area and erecting one on our avenue (which is a close) will cause a lot of movements even of people with ulterior motives.
“We are better off as it is,” said a resident of Burwell Close.
The resident said on Friday last week he signed to acknowledge that he had received a copy of the proposal.
Another resident said all residents of Burwell Close are objecting to the proposed service station.
“So far what I have gathered is all the residents of Burwell do not want a service station at Number One and we are working together with our residents’ committee to handle this case legally and professionally,” she said.
The resident said some of the residents have received the proposals while others have not.
“But there was a suggestion that we investigate the above matter with Axminster Road residents so that we try and work together,” she said.
