Witzenberg backtrack on Eskom Power Line

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="042085a3.jpg"> <div> <I>Witzenberg backtrack on Eskom Power Line</I></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="043d2e83.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="146" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Information"><B><U>Home</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="witzenberg_location.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Location"><B><U>Location</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="witzenberg_historical.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Historical"><B><U>Historical</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="witzenberg_property.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Property"><B><U>Property</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="140" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="140" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 39 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="political_viewpoints.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Political Viewpoints"><B><U>Political Viewpoints</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="political_viewpoints.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Political Viewpoints"><B><U>Local Politics</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="political_viewpoints.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Witzenberg Political Viewpoints"><B><U>Municipal affairs</U></B></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="140" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="140"><div> <A HREF="contact_us.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><B><U>Contact</U></B></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04407073.jpg"> <div> <B>The Municipality does a complete backtrack on it's decision not to appeal against the decision by the Department of Environment and Tourism to issue a Record of Decision for Eskom to proceed with the monstrous 765kv Power Line across the Tulbagh and Ceres Valleys. The did this after first resolving to oppose the Power Line.  Seems as though the Municipality is once again out of sync with the feelings of it's own community!</B></div> <div> <B>Below is the letter of response by the Tulbagh Action Committee and the letter received from the Municipality below.</B></div> <div> <B>13 July 2006 </B></div> <div> <B>The Municipal Manager, </B></div> <div> <B>Witzenberg Municipality </B></div> <div> <B>Dear Dana, </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I received a letter today addressed to myself as Chairman of the Tulbagh Action Committee (your reference 16/3/01 - see attached for ease of reference) </B></div> <div> <B>I wish to state that I am utterly dismayed at this decision. As can be seen by the list of Appellants to the Appeal herewith attached, Council stands almost alone in it's attitude of acceptance of the power line after having previously decided to oppose it. </B></div> <div> <B>I would appreciate as a matter of urgency, it if you would kindly send me a copy of the Resolution of 'Council' to this effect. If it was a decision by the Executive Mayoral Committee, I would care to receive minutes of that meeting where this resolution was made. If a vote was taken on the matter, I would appreciate an extract of any minute that reveals the vote on the matter. </B></div> <div> <B>I refer you also to a previous Council Resolution that I posted on the web site </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Stylus BT" ><B><U>www.tulbagh.net</U></B></FONT><B> as below. This begs the question as to whether Council is in the habit of amending it's Resolutions as time goes by, or whether this was another ad-hoc decision by the Mayoral Executive Committee? </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Gamma Omega 765 kV power line:</B></div> <div> <B>ESKOM</B></div> <div> <B>(16/3/01)</B></div> <div> <B>Item 7.16 van die Uitvoerende Burgemeesterskomitee vergadering gehou op 18 Januarie 2005, verwys.</B></div> <div> <B>After consultation with the Executive Mayoral Committee, the Executive Mayor, resolved:</B></div> <div> <B>Not to approve the new route as suggested by ESKOM and to advise ESKOM that the following options will be considered:</B></div> <div> <B>(i) The same route as the existing one on condition that the poles must be designed in such way that it can accommodate any further power lines through this area and also furthermore to be of an acceptable aesthetic appearance to Council and the community and that the final approval of the relevant design and type of pole must be approved by Council after community consultation.</B></div> <div> <B>(ii) Underground cabling.</B></div> <div> <B>`n Memorandum van die Bestuurder: Beplanning en Projekte, gedateer 15 Februarie 2005, word ingebind as bylae 7.23.</B></div> <div> <B>Die Uitvoerende Burgemeester het besluit dat die roete teen die noordelike grens van die Prince Alfred's Hamlet meentgronde goedgekeur word.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sincerely, </B></div> <div> <B>John Veschini </B></div> <div> <B>Chairman </B></div> <div> <B>Tulbagh Ratepayers/Inwoners Forum (TRIF - Incorporating ETLAC) </B></div> <div> <B>Copy to Myke Ashley-Cooper for circulation to the members of TRIF/ETLAC </B></div> <div> <B>Copy to The Herald </B></div> <div> <B>Copy to The Worcester Standard</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0e871b90.png" border=0 width="625" height="953" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>