Your STCA Exco
Below please find below the portfolios and contact details of the STCA Exco as appointed for 2007.

‘House Taverns’ in areas zoned single residential. Please take action!

You could have a ‘house tavern’ next door to you, legally operating until 4 in the morning.

“On 26 March 2007 the Minister of Environment Planning and Economic Development published a notice in the press outlining his intention to amend the Scheme Regulations of the Land Use Planning Ordinance of 1985.

The Minister is introducing the definition of a house tavern as an enterprise conducted from a dwelling house or outbuilding on a residential zoned property on which the primary use is a single dwelling, by the lawful occupant of the dwelling house for sale and consumption on and off the property.

The minister is also adding a consent use for house taverns in all residential zones on which the primary use is a single dwelling.

The proposal says criteria for evaluating applications for consent use may include i) extent and position of liquor outlet; ii) number of patrons, operating hours, number of staff and signage of the house tavern; iii) parking and traffic; iv) possible alterations to the property for fire or health reasons and minimising impacts on neighbours; v) transferability of permission to operate a house tavern; vi)entertainment apparatus, potential nuisance, vending machines, video games, pool tables, amusement centres, and discotheques.

The notice asks for comments in writing at Chief Director: Environmental and Land Management, Private Bag X9086, Cape Town 8000, or 1 Dorp Street, Cape Town, on or before 25 April 2007. The fax number is 021 483 41 85.”

Please be sure to comment. Individual comments carry more weight than adding your name to someone else's comment.

Navy
Reports indicate that this year’s Navy Festival was the best ever! Thanks to all who made it so. Look out for the new submarine which will be arriving in Simon’s Town on 30 April.

Environment
There has been a spate of appalling vandalism to signs and property over the school holidays period. The Parks Board alone is having to spend over R15 000 to replace vandalised signs. The public is asked to watch out for suspicious looking groups/gangs of yourths, and to advise the Parks Board (021 786 2329), Emergency Services (012 782 0333), or the Police 021 786 8646/7).

Also, vandals have been rolling rocks onto the Main Road near the old Seaforth Burial Ground. Please also report this if you see it happening, and be cautious when driving at night as the stones could result in a serious accident.

Efforts continue to find an effective solution to control the sand that blows from the beach, across the railway line onto the Main Road at Glencairn. Thanks to all who offered palm fronds to help with the stabilization.

The wind also plays havoc with garbage and recyclable items that are not properly disposed of. Residents are asked to assist by not putting recyclables NEXT TO the recycling igloos on the Main Road at Dido Valley and at the Glencairn shopping centre if they are full. Rather find another igloo or come back another day.

At the Glencairn Vlei a board walk running uphill about 40 metres parallel to the Expressway from the berm entrance has been completed. Thanks go to dedicated GEESE members continue to hold regular clean-ups in the vlei, removing trailer-loads of garbage.

Property
The STCA has learned that the EIA process around the Rocklands “Ecovillage” proposal is underway and will be monitoring progress.

The summary of the about 800 objections/comments around the draft of the Intergrated Zoning Scheme published in 2005 is now available in libraries and on the web at www.capetown.gov.za.

Look out for the updated Structure Plan will be available for comment within the next few months.

Amenities
As mentioned above, signs have been vandalised and street signs removed. Please report any missing street signs to Roger Bagshaw, 021 786 1226.

The STCA is raising the issue of the removal of the turning facility at the Simon’s Town station, which has resulted in dangerous and illegal U-turns becoming the norm. Please exercise caution when driving past the station.

Security
Sector Policing has been working very well in Simon’s Town resulting in a decrease in crime incidents over the last months. With Sector Policing, a police vehicle is deployed full time in each of the three sectors for which the Simon’s Town police station has responsibility (Simon’s Town, Glencairn and Scarborough) for 7 out of every 8 hours, resulting in rapid responses to calls.

Four copper thieves have been arrested. The focus is now on the scrap metal dealer who has been purchasing the stolen goods.

Areas are strongly encouraged to set up neighbourhood watches. These have been extremely successful in reducing crime, essentially by neighbours looking out for each other and keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour. Prevention and awareness are the aim of a successful neighbourhood watch. Liz Danks (021-786- 4620) can advise on how to go about setting up a neighbourhood watch.

Please note that the Simon’s Town police encourage people to report any suspicious behaviour they notice. Phone the local police station and report what you see (021 786 8646/7). You can tell them that it is not an emergency, and let them decide how to, or with what haste to, follow up.

Penguin Festival
If you are able to volunteer to help with the Festival please contact Fran Freeman. Fran is also looking for children to volunteer to “be” penguins! A penguin suit is provided.

Subscriptions for 2007
Subscriptions of R50 for 2007 were due on the 1st January 2007. They may be paid at the Central Hotel Reception Desk, or by post to P O Box 47, Simon's Town, 7995, or directly to the STCA account with Nedbank, Fish Hoek, branch code 121121, account number 2211023762. . Please contact our treasurer, Ian Allan (see contact details above) if you are uncertain whether or not you have already paid for 2007.