At an urgent meeting held on 16 February to discuss alternatives to the current plans for the controvercial R54million Chapman’s Peak Toll Plaza the Civil Rights Action Group (CRAG) presented proposals for a pre-payed  / non – manned toll system for Chapman’s Peak to representatives from the Provincial Dept of Transport, Murray & Roberts and Entilini. 

The letters (below) released by CRAGS reflects what is hopefully a genuine intention by the Head of the WC Department of Transport and the Toll Plaza Team to look at alternatives to the large toll plaza and to appoint an independant specialist.  Of concern is the fact that construction has not stopped to await the outcome of the new investigation!!   In the words of CRAG “this could be nothing more than an attempt to literally cement and assert your “rights’’ to the area under discussion”  If the toll site were to move beyong the picnic sites this would address the issue of tolling that section of the road which does not need high maintenance and would not penalize visitors to the hiking trails and picnic spots.  The Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance and the Protect Chapman’s Peak Movement do not appear to have much faith that the Authorities will take note of civil society concerns.  See their emails in the comments section at the bottom of the page calling for people opposed to the Toll Plaza to take action. 

Letter from Hector Eliott, Head of Ministry, Dept of Transport. PGWC

Dear CRAG leaders and members,

Thank you for a thoughtful and positive contribution in the form of your conceptual proposal to remove cash transactions from the toll control points on Chapman’s Peak Drive, to other sites in Hout Bay and Noordhoek, and possibly other locations in the Peninsula.

I am glad that we agreed that Chapman’s Peak Drive should be kept open for the enjoyment of all, and that we have consensus that to keep it open requires a toll road.

Our discussions after the meeting, between Province, Enilini shareholders, and Tolcon lasted longer than the actual meeting with yourselves.

The discussions centred around the merits and logistics of a “pay-on-foot” tolling option, as opposed to a cash system. Since CRAG has presented only a concept and not a solution per se, we discussed variants of a “pay-on-foot” solution that would remove transactions from the toll control points on Chapman’s Peak Drive.

We will collectively still need to further consider the options and the various scenarios that were raised in the second meeting. We have so far identified the requirement for at least one additional specialist in this area, and are therefore bringing in an external independent expert to assist. We have also identified other entities, most particularly the City of Cape Town, which may need to be consulted.

We need to explore fully the implications of the proposal as it would be disastrous if the result is the need for a larger infrastructure capability on the roadway.  I am sure you will understand that this will take some time.

It must be pointed out that it is very clear that whatever the results of the deliberations and consultation in this area, there will still need to be a tolling point or points on the roadway, and that the canopy structure currently being constructed will be necessary and that construction thereof will proceed.

 Kind regards,

 Hector Eliott   Head of Ministry, Dept of Transport. PGWC

 ”All views or opinions expressed in this electronic message and its attachments are the view of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (“the PGWC’). ” 

 

Letter from CRAG members for the Attention of the PGWC, Murray & Roberts and Entilini. 

Dear Sirs,

On behalf of CRAG I wish to thank you for providing us with a platform and a professional audience to present what we believe is a rational and proactive alternative to the current construction being erected on Chapman’s Peak Drive.

Our intention was never to present a detailed operational model of the suggested “pay-on-foot” alternative, none of us have this field of expertise, but to simply establish whether the Province is indeed prepared to consider, and investigate such an alternative to the current plan. We do however question your use of the quaintly named “pay-on-foot” term. Use of ones credit card at a toll machine is hardly “pay-on-foot”.  We used the pre-paid term in our presentation. There are many options for buying pre-paid cards. 

We are however encouraged by your note that discussions post our meeting were lengthy and that they centered on removing cash transactions from the mountain.

We are gratified to hear that you have recognized the need to engage an external, independent specialist in this field and take this to mean that you are committed to genuinely applying your collective minds to investigating, and fully exploring, this avenue of opportunity. Will there be an opportunity for CRAG to be involved in any part of these discussions/investigations?

However, we find it a extremely disingenuous that whilst this investigation process is being duly considered and entered into, you devalue a large part of the suggested pre paid environmentally friendly tolling system, by insisting to continue moving ahead with construction. If at the end of your collective deliberation, you do accept the pre-paid tolling system, there will be no need for the size and scale of the Toll Plazas you are pushing ahead with, nor would they have to be situated at the current construction site. By building where you are currently building, you leave the contentious issue of the free day pass still in limbo instead of moving the tolling site to a more practical place, beyond the last picnic site and trail head. A we proposed, this move would solve the day pass issue once and for all. Plus tolling that part of the mountain that requires heavy maintenance and not holding to ransom those who wish to go to the picnic sites or use the magnificent trails on that part of the mountain. As we put it to you at the meeting today, all this could be resolved, with out-of-the-box creative thinking. We appear to be sliding back into the old school of thought even before you have started looking at the alternative pre-paid system at all. 

We would also like to hold the PGWC to the agreement that was reached on the construction site yesterday, as part of the meeting agenda, that any immediate negative result of our discussions would be accompanied, within 24 hours, with a written reason as to why you were rejecting that particular suggestion from CRAG. As you have made a decision, after applying your minds, to rejected our suggestion of moving the Toll Plaza to, in our humble opinion, a more environmentally suitable position and the suggestion of a far smaller, more environmentally styled Toll Plaza, we therefor ask you to explain why you have to build such a grand concrete Toll Plaza on that particular site?

It would appear that this could be nothing more than an attempt to literally cement and assert your “rights’’ to the area under discussion. No matter how contentious the issue may be, and in the face of huge public protest and actions against exactly what you intend carrying on doing. 

Under the circumstances we will find it difficult to placate and control the more extremist members of our group, the general public as well as other more militant groups wishing to join in, ramp-up and expand the protest.

We do however re-iterate our commitment to ‘reason vs treason’ and distance ourselves from any unlawful acts (sabotage, malicious damage or interference etc.) committed against the PGWC, M&R, Entilini and their agents.

We will at all times encourage peaceful and constructive engagement and dialogue with all the groups who were party to today’s meeting. There is still time to talk. 

We will do this until such time as it becomes apparent that the above mentioned investigation is nothing more than a misguided attempt to buy time, is a farce, or is no longer in our interests to do so.

 In the interim I assure you of our continued willingness to engage with you and your team in the hope that we may truly be able to find the ‘Win-Win’ solution that I believe all parties wish to achieve.

 Sincerely,

 CRAG Members

 

For background info go to: https://scenicsouth.co.za//2012/01/chapman%E2%80%99s-peak-toll-plaza-bulldozing-ahead/