Suburban
A TRUCK yard and overnight parking established at a house at the corner of Sawley Way and Harare Drive in Marlborough is putting residents of the area at risk of fires, inconveniencing motorists with smaller cars and causing noise pollution.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
According to the residents, the property in question has been turned into a truck yard and overnight parking for the heavy vehicles in violation of the City of Harare by-laws.
The heavy trucks including fuel tankers are being parked at the house overnight or even for longer and sometimes block the way of other motorists while entering or exiting the premises.
Residents have roundly condemned the establishment of a truck yard at Number 1A Sawley which located at a busy intersection which also happens to be one of the major feeder roads greatly disrupting the flow of traffic and endangering other road users.
The residents have since written to City of Harare authorities at Marlborough District Office demanding action against the owners of the truck yard. Residents also want the heavy trucks removed from the house and relocated to a suitable place for such vehicles and business operations. In a letter seen by this publication, the residents are fuming against the establishment of such a business in a residential area.
“The establishment of a truck yard and parking of the said trucks overnight violates current City of Harare by-laws (Please note these are 30 tonne plus fuel tankers and on one occasion we observed six such trucks on this property.) The storage of fuel tankers especially overnight and for any lengthy period of time in a residential area also causes a great risk to all the residents of Marlborough. Should one of these trucks ever catch fire one shudders to think what the outcome will be,” wrote the residents in a letter to addressed to Marlborough District Officer Mrs Gambiza, acting district officer Mrs Gora and Mr Jembere the development control officer. The operations at Number 1 Sawley are also putting the environment at risk, the residents argued as the premises are not equipped for such a business.
“We have also observed that the trucks are being serviced and cleaned on these premises, which are not equipped as a garage. We are therefore also concerned about the long-term damage to the environment. Furthermore, the trucks make a lot of noise right throughout the day and night and even at weekends,” wrote the residents.
In addition to the heavy trucks and fuel tankers, the house is also being used as a parking lot for heavy tipper trucks and trailers, the residents added.
“The trucks cause serious obstructions to other fellow road users as they enter and exit the premises. Please note that this road also leads to Marlborough Primary School, Happy Primary School, Marlborough High School, Irene Christian College and Saicon College.”
The residents said it was ill-advised for the business operators to locate the truck yard at a busy intersection. “The property is located at a very busy intersection with Harare Drive and Sawley Close. Sawley Close is one of Marlborough’s major feeder roads. The obstruction by these trucks thereby causes great risk to road users on both Harare Drive and Sawley Way,” said the residents. Noise pollution in the area is another concern raised by the residents as the trucks drive in and out of the property. “Furthermore, the trucks make a lot of noise right throughout the day and night and even at weekends. Below are several photos of what was observed yesterday for you reference.
As such we are kindly requesting for your department to urgently stop this practice for the safety of all the residents of Marlborough. We look forward to your response confirming that this will be the case going forward,” the residents wrote on behalf of the Marlborough Residents and Neighbourhood Watch Committees.
Residents who spoke to Suburban expressed deep annoyance at the operations at Number 1 Sawley.
“If one of these trucks should accidentally catch fire it not only endangers the lives of all the people around but is also a serious risk to everyone’s investment as all the surrounding houses could easily catch fire from such a mishap. Furthermore, the parking of heavy vehicles on residential property is also in contravention to the City of Harare by-laws.
“These trucks have also been observed being serviced on this property again in contravention of the by-laws. The truck operators are so inconsiderate that at times they carry our shunting operations in the roads, swap horses and trailers or even park their trailers in this busy road,” said a resident.
Residents also spoke about how the trucks were a bother to hundreds of parents who drive their children to the five schools in the area.
“Since these trucks have been getting parked here, they have also caused numerous disruptions to traffic and other road users. While Harare Drive is busy at the best of times, Sawley Way is also equally busy especially during peak hours and around school pick up times. Sawley Way leads to five schools within the area, namely Marlborough Primary, Marlborough High School, Irene Christian College, Saicon College and Happy Primary School. All these schools are within a one-kilometre radius of this residential truck yard, and it seems most of the parents as well as the local Zupco buses and school buses use this intersection to access the schools,” said a resident.
Added another resident: “On so many occasions trucks entering and exiting this property have caused chaos as they disrupt the natural flow of traffic as they try to squeeze through a residential gate. Despite attempts by the property owners to widen the gates there is just not enough room for the trucks and as such put fellow road users in danger when they try to force their way in. The road is also used by many small school children attending these five schools from the local community.”
The said the trucks had caused extreme damage to the roads and expressed fear what the roads will look like during the rainy season.
