An update from some of the Woodstock residents concerning the Earl Street Bowling Green opposition. Note that the WRA is not involved in the Heritage Council appeal, this article expresses the views of some Woodstock residents only.
Appeal is to be heard in the High Court – 29th July.
Some Hoodies may recall that with the Woodstock Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF), sites were identified for social housing. Heritage Western Cape held an application hearing on the proposed Bowling Green property. Spearheaded by the late Cathy Powell, a few residents opposed the City’s plans. The Heritage ruling outcome denied the City’s application for the Earl St (Al Noor) Bowling Green – The Mayor and City has now taken this expensive appeal and this ruling to the High Court.
Reasons for the opposition to develop the Castle Bowling Green:
The fundamental argument is this – Woodstock has enough identified social housing sites (Have we seen a single brick delivered in 20-odd years?) but why remove a valuable site that provides amenities such as using the existing Old Club-house as a Community Centre and develop the property for amenities and utilised in the interests of the greater community other than for more housing? – with the potential of up to an extra 10-15 thousand residents why take away valuable recreational Green Space knowing nothing has been provisioned in these developments for the community – for example an accessible Woodstock community centre?
Woodstock is for ALL that live in the neighbourhood. With the appeal due at the High Court, the City wins by default if the argument is not opposed by the community, so the challenge continues!
Due to be heard now by a 3-Judge panel on the 29th July, this has been identified as a Constitutional issue and a landmark case to hear argument by specialist lawyers.
An urgent crowd-funding appeal is happening to pay for the legal team and your financial support is valuable and appreciated for this challenge. Seeking discussion and engagement with community members that advocate for social housing has so far, disappointingly and sadly, been silence from them and the representative advocacy organisations – the enemy here is the City not our own community!
For further updates please visit the Woodstock Bowling Green website, and to help with crowdfunding, support the Backabuddy campaign HERE.
Join the WRA What’sApp Bowling Green group for progress updates – this is a long fight folks carried by a few in the interests of many.