RICHMOND Hill’s residents have taken to the streets as volunteers to paint faded road markings.
And as a bonus, they are getting to know their neighbours better, according to Richmond Hill Special Rates Area (RHSRA) office manager, Sharon Pretorius.
With residents having been invited to select their own intersections, with most choosing the ones nearest to their homes, Stanley Street and the part of Irvine Street outside the SRA office have been painted by the SRA team.
This initiative, the OwnYourZoneRH campaign, aims to foster community pride, long-term sustainability and ongoing maintenance and beautification of Richmond Hill.
“It is just one of a number of neighbourhood projects where residents have taken ownership of their streets by weeding the pavements, picking up litter and trimming trees in support of the SRA teams,” says Sharon.
Residents have also helped raise the levels of security by offering their properties as sites for the installation of 60 security cameras, linked to the Magnum control room and a 24-hour HRG patrol vehicle, through the fibre connection of the residents’ homes.
“The suburb-wide CCTV security system is a first for Nelson Mandela Bay, and probably for the country, that we are aware of. This is due to the unique way it operates with the SRA coordinating and funding the camera installations, security patrol and CCTV monitoring, while also giving camera hosts 24-hour access to their own cameras,” says camera project facilitator, John Bryce.
“Given our limited funds, it could only have happened with the support of the community,” he adds.
Artificial intelligence built into the cameras and a system developed by Magnum identify and follow suspicious behaviour through the suburb and alert the patrollers in the HRG vehicle, who take appropriate action.
“The system is still being refined, but crime levels are definitely down according to the police statistics for the Humewood precinct,” says Bryce.
Another group of residents has taken responsibility for managing the “wild park” – plots of neglected municipal land bordering on Albany Road and behind the old fire station.
“It was a haven for squatters and provided an easy escape route for muggers, as well as being a fire risk,” says Sharon.
Over the years, successive groups of volunteers have cleared it of alien vegetation, cleaned up the creek and planted indigenous vegetation.
While the Hillers are not hesitating to roll up their sleeves to improve their neighbourhood, HRG/SRA security patrollers make sure of their safety while on patrol in the area and local coffee shop, Groundfloor Café, supplies the volunteers with a much-needed caffeine fix.
All in all, a well-functioning community is in motion, striving to develop an ongoing safe and welcoming environment and, in so doing, preserving the suburban elegance and historic charm of Richmond Hill. This is a prime example of the Hillers’ civic pride and love for their neighbourhood that has and always will play a key role in the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Over the next few months, the Richmond Hill SRA plans several additional projects to make the suburb even safer, cleaner and more attractive. Watch this space and their social media posts to stay in the loop at the Richmond Hill Port Elizabeth Facebook page and their website, www.rhsra.co.za.
