COURT CHALLENGE LOOMS Clairwood residents protest against logistics park proposal

ARMED with more than 2,000 formal objections and placards, residents, religious leaders and environmental activists took to the local park to reszone Clairwood as a logistics park.

- NADIA KHAN

The protest, led by the Clairwood Ratepayers and Residents Association (CRRA), took place outside the eThekwini Municipality offices in South Ridge, in central Durban, last Friday.

The comes after the office held a public meeting in February to address the residents about the proposal.

According to the notice of pub lic hearings issued by the city, they are seeking to amend the eThekwini municipal land scheme, central subscheme, in the introduction of a new zone to be known as “special zone 406: Clairwood Logistics Park” and its associate plans that affect the study area.

The said would give affect to the local area plan (LAP) adopted by the city in 2014.

According to the city, the purpose of the intention was to create a “quality environment in line with the city’s vision”.

At the time, Little Phewu, the head of the city’s development planning area, environmental management unit, said this would ensure better management of the area.

“Clairwood has always been a mixed-use area with industries sur rounding a residential core. The intended masterplan looks to create uses that respond directly to the port. The city aims to ensure that all land uses in the area are done legally and within the ambit of the relevant reg ulations, making it a safe, manageable space for all users.