Mystery surrounds a construction site at Beacon Bay landmark Spargs SuperSpar after a housing complex there was demolished and the area cordoned off.
The site at Major Square off Bonza Bay Road is surrounded by orange netting, with public entry prohibited.
There are no billboards stating what is being built or which contractor is working there, and Spargs company bosses are keeping their cards close to their chest on what they plan to build.
RNE Holdings group manager Ken Maree said it was still too early to reveal what would be built.
“At the moment we are currently expanding our parking lot, and we have been brainstorming ideas for when we want to develop the area at a later stage, but nothing has been concluded as yet,” he said.
Large volumes of suburban traffic bypass the site to get to Spargs SuperSpar and the mall’s tenant shops.
Saturday Dispatch was told yesterday rumours were circulating that a filling station would be built there, while some people speculated that a storeroom would go up, and others hoped more food outlets would be constructed.
Chairman of the Beacon Bay Ratepayers’ Association, Malcolm Symons said he was aware a service station was on the cards at the far corner of the large and mostly unused mall parking lot where Beaconhurst Drive and Bonza Bay Road connect, while the area where the townhouse complex once stood would be used for parking.
“From what I was told the group was still awaiting for the necessary approvals before they could go ahead with their plans, but they would be better to answer on their developments.
“I don’t see how the ratepayers may dispute the construction of a service station, but that is just my opinion because nothing has been formally confirmed nor has anything been discussed.”
Yesterday, Saturday Dispatch was reliably told a plan by Mda Architects was officially signed off by Buffalo City Metro in the morning.
However, BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi would not confirm this. He said the municipality was not at liberty to release such information to a third party.
“Spargs is a private company and we therefore advise that you deal directly with them.”
Debbie Versveld, who has been a resident at the remaining town house section at the mall for six years, said: “I don’t know what’s going on really. I’m not sure if this structure will also be demolished. There has been no communication about that to date, which is a relief.”
Beacon Bay resident Zoliswa Tinga said building a filling station would be a waste, considering the suburb had four of them within the radius of a few kilometres. “I have been wondering what was being built here … I thought maybe they were expanding one of their departments. But the idea of a filling station would not work,” she said. Another resident, Zukelwa Mdoko, said it would be ideal to have more food outlets.
Director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, Les Holbrook said it was important Beacon Bay was not developed beyond its capacity.
“Beacon Bay is a growing suburb and its commercial growth has been good, but we have to be wary of developing the suburb beyond its capacity, which could lead to congestion and high traffic volumes in the area.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Rumours fly over site at mall- Centre ‘still weighing up options’
The site at Major Square off Bonza Bay Road is surrounded by orange netting, with public entry prohibited.
There are no billboards stating what is being built or which contractor is working there, and Spargs company bosses are keeping their cards close to their chest on what they plan to build.
RNE Holdings group manager Ken Maree said it was still too early to reveal what would be built.
“At the moment we are currently expanding our parking lot, and we have been brainstorming ideas for when we want to develop the area at a later stage, but nothing has been concluded as yet,” he said.
Large volumes of suburban traffic bypass the site to get to Spargs SuperSpar and the mall’s tenant shops.
Saturday Dispatch was told yesterday rumours were circulating that a filling station would be built there, while some people speculated that a storeroom would go up, and others hoped more food outlets would be constructed.
Chairman of the Beacon Bay Ratepayers’ Association, Malcolm Symons said he was aware a service station was on the cards at the far corner of the large and mostly unused mall parking lot where Beaconhurst Drive and Bonza Bay Road connect, while the area where the townhouse complex once stood would be used for parking.
“From what I was told the group was still awaiting for the necessary approvals before they could go ahead with their plans, but they would be better to answer on their developments.
“I don’t see how the ratepayers may dispute the construction of a service station, but that is just my opinion because nothing has been formally confirmed nor has anything been discussed.”
Yesterday, Saturday Dispatch was reliably told a plan by Mda Architects was officially signed off by Buffalo City Metro in the morning.
However, BCM spokesman Sibusiso Cindi would not confirm this. He said the municipality was not at liberty to release such information to a third party.
“Spargs is a private company and we therefore advise that you deal directly with them.”
Debbie Versveld, who has been a resident at the remaining town house section at the mall for six years, said: “I don’t know what’s going on really. I’m not sure if this structure will also be demolished. There has been no communication about that to date, which is a relief.”
Beacon Bay resident Zoliswa Tinga said building a filling station would be a waste, considering the suburb had four of them within the radius of a few kilometres. “I have been wondering what was being built here … I thought maybe they were expanding one of their departments. But the idea of a filling station would not work,” she said. Another resident, Zukelwa Mdoko, said it would be ideal to have more food outlets.
Director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business, Les Holbrook said it was important Beacon Bay was not developed beyond its capacity.
“Beacon Bay is a growing suburb and its commercial growth has been good, but we have to be wary of developing the suburb beyond its capacity, which could lead to congestion and high traffic volumes in the area.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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