No way for Charles Way

Those residents who have been around for a while may remember that the road that passes in front of the Maytime Centre in Kloof was called Charles Way, and the road that runs past the old Gillitts train station was Old Station Road.

You will be surprised to know that according to eThekwini those roads do not exist because they do not appear in the municipality’s GIS database.

Councillor Rick Crouch has been trying for more than a year to get a red line, ‘no stopping’ signs, weight restriction signs and street name signs on Charles Way.

“eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) says it cannot do anything because the road does not appear in the GIS system. The GIS Department says it is not a municipal road – that it is a provincial road and that its name is Old Main Road, even though Old Main Road is on the other side of the M13 freeway. The Provincial DOT says it will not do anything because it is a municipal road… and this has been going on for years.

The Charles Way sign on the newer road, which seems to have replaced the original in Municipal records

“Superintendent Tony Sills of Metro Police in Gillitts has been attempting to assist as he clearly remembers the road in question being called Charles Way, but all his attempts have been rebuffed,” said Councillor Rick Crouch.

On closer inspection of the “original” Charles Way, the old street name signs still bear the name Charles Way. This would be funny if it was not so serious.

The lack of appropriate restriction and prohibitive signage allows large trucks to park on the verge while the drivers make their purchases at the Kwik Spar and completely block one lane of traffic.

The problem started years ago when the new development was built at the bottom of Abrey Road and the municipality built a new road alongside the M13, and in their wisdom they named that road Charles Way, even though there was already a road named Charles Way.

While the different departments and arms of government deny ownership and responsibility for the road, residents continue to live with the inconvenience of not having a name to the street that they call home, and every one of us risks an accident caused by the illegally parked trucks.

The municipality’s answer is that the road should be called something else, anything else. Understandably, that is not good enough for the residents. They want the original name restored as reflected on the deeds to their homes and as it was for decades.

Contact Councillor Rick Crouch at councillor@ward10.co.za