The Green Point Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association (GPRRA) is calling for your support to achieve yet another of its goals. After years of intense hard work we are nearing our dream of preserving the Green Point Common as public open space that will be protected and conserved in perpetuity for all the people of Cape Town, for all South Africans and for future generations.
In 2015 the CoCT undertook to nominate portions of the Common as a Provincial Heritage Site, but did not follow through. GPRRA therefore took the initiative and asked Dr Antonia Malan to prepare and submit the dossier to HWC in 2016. A supplementary report was then developed in collaboration with heritage officials in the CoCT that clearly expressed the historic and heritage values of this unique urban cultural landscape. The outcome was that the very persuasive proposal was supported and enthusiastically endorsed by civic and heritage groups and, most importantly, HWC has acknowledged that the Common must be protected and conserved.
In brief, the GPRRA’s initial request and preference was for Option B ie the whole area granted in 1923 whereas the City’s Option D excludes the stadia and tennis precinct. Option C is a compromise proposed by the heritage officials in the City Council and was supported by Heritage Western Cape (see GPRRA website below). The GPRRA decided to recommend support of this compromise ie Option C. It includes most of the core historic precinct. GPRRA believes in the need for compromise to give us a better chance to object to the City’s Option D. That’s why we are urging everyone to support option C so we have a bigger voice to object Option D.
Make your opinion known during the public participation process by writing/emailing before the deadline of 1 September 2017 (see below for address and suggested wording [but please adapt and expand in your own words]). Your letter should preferably be signed and scanned and sent as an attachment to an email.
If you need further guidance, please call or email Jenny McQueen, Chairperson, GPRRA, 021 439 5063/082 579 9125 jenny@mcqueen.co.za
Suggested letter:
Date:
To:
Heritage Western Cape
Private Bag X9067
Cape Town 8000
3rd Floor, Protea Assurance Building
Green Market Square
Cape Town
Attention Jonathan Windvogel (jonathan.windvogel@westerncape.gov.za)
Re: Nomination of Green Point Common as a Provincial Heritage Site
We (our association/institution?)/I have been following the extensive research and continued lobbying by the Green Point Ratepayers’ & Residents’ Association (GPRRA) to argue for the Green Point Common to become a Provincial Heritage Site. This will ensure that this invaluable public open space is protected, preserved and conserved in perpetuity for all the people of Cape Town, for all South Africans and for future generations.
We/I therefore fully support the nomination of the Common as worthy of Grade II heritage status, and endorse the proposed boundary referred to as Option C for the following reasons………..
Name
Address
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Disclaimer: Any views expressed by individuals and organisations are their own and do not in any way represent the views of The Heritage Portal.