Good candidate has plan mapped for Goodwood

A PLAN to pull Goodwood and adjoining areas out of the decay into which they have slumped has been drawn up by Good Party councillor candidate Gavin Joachims.

The ward 27 candidate said that the key to his five-year development plan’s success was a series of discussions about opportunities with ward residents, who could offer direction and input on issues related to community development, health, and societal well-being.

These included the establishment of a business forum for local economic development; an arts and culture forum, a safety and security forum; a homeless people’s forum, to access services; a sports forum; a Goodwood history forum; and a social development forum.

The plan divides ward 27 into Goodwood Civic precinct, N1 City precinct, Goodwood Central precinct, Jakes Gerwel precinct and GrandWest precinct to make the goals more manageable.

“Environmental decay breeds crime and societal dysfunction. The priority in Goodwood is cleaning up the grime. This includes a focus on the area along Station Road, Dellwyn Road, Hamilton Street and the Goodwood station; all the parks in Goodwood; the main pedestrian routes; and, the dumping sites along the railway lines and top-end of Townsend Street,” said Joachims.

He said that although most residents had responded positively to the plan, there were some who believed it was hot air and empty promises.

“Many are disappointed with the service delivery to date, so I don’t blame them. For the past 10 years, the area has deteriorated drastically. I do not blame anyone for being sceptical about the plan. Most of the residents in Goodwood are frustrated, disappointed and even angered by the state of decay,” said the Good candidate.

However, Joachims said negative feedback was not a bad thing.

Goodwood Ratepayers and Residents Association chairperson Faizel Petersen said it had been difficult to engage with parties and candidates leading up to the election as they were getting approached by all candidates, but urged the candidates to be aware of the City’s current development plans for the area and their ongoing projects for dumping and social housing.