Dumping spreads to Field and Study Park
PARKMORE - Illegally dumped refuse at the Field and Study Park in Parkmore has sparked great concern as it seems the informal recyclers who operate nearby have spread their mess to the park's grounds.
The informal recycling depot operating between William Nicol Drive and the Braamfontein Spruit, adjacent to the Forest Farm Centre in Parkmore, has been an ongoing problem for a number of years, largely because of the mess left behind by their operation. Huge piles of plastics and other discarded waste can be found in the dense vegetation across the river from the park.
Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp was dismayed by the discovery of a large pile of plastic refuse on the park’s property and he feared it may escalate. He said that Johannesburg City Parks cannot allow this to happen in a public park.
He said, “We understand that these people are trying to make an honest leaving, but occupying public open space like parks is an illegal activity. Even if City Parks were to allow them to stay there the conditions are just not suitable for them; some bath in the river, and build naked fires which can cause extensive damage to the park’s vegetation if they were to go wild, especially with the season we are in.”
Earp added, “Since their arrival here, crime in the area has shot up, and residents do not feel safe around the park. Now they must always travel in groups because they are scared of getting mugged.”
One anonymous vagrant told the Chronicle, “We know that City Parks does not want us here. They have been calling the police to get rid of us, and when the police get here they burn the grass and we end up losing most of our things, like blankets. It isn’t all of us who are illegally dumping in the park, some of us are here because we are homeless and unemployed.”
