Road name proposal a link to heritage

A portion of Voortrekker Road in Durbanville could soon be known as Pampoenkraal Lane. File photo: Henk Kruger

A portion of Voortrekker Road in Durbanville could soon be known as Pampoenkraal Lane. File photo: Henk Kruger

Published Sep 29, 2015

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Cape Town - A portion of Voortrekker Road in Durbanville could soon be known as Pampoenkraal Lane, if a City of Cape Town proposal receives the go-ahead.

People have been invited to submit comments on the proposal for the portion of road between Wellington Road and Church Street.

In adverts over the weekend, the city said it was in the process of finalising a renaming proposal for the section of Voortrekker Road and that it would complement the R10 million Pampoenkraal Heritage Site project currently under way in Durbanville.

People can submit comments during October to the city.

Pampoenkraal – from the Afrikaans word “pampoen” meaning pumpkin, and “kraal” meaning corral (an enclosure for livestock) – was the initial name for Durbanville.

Johan van der Merwe, mayoral committee member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, said “good progress” was being made with the Pampoenkraal Heritage Site upgrade, the aim of which was to create a robust, multi-purpose public square that could be transformed from a “playful water park for small children to an exhibition space or a concert venue with minimal effort, while also acting as a dignified civic space at the entrance to the Durbanville CBD”.

The site – bound by Main, Wellington, Voortrekker, and Church streets and which currently accommodates the town hall – has a rich history, having played an important role in the development of Durbanville.

The aim is also to promote business as well as encourage community activities to reinvigorate the area.

Van der Merwe said construction on the first phase in Voortrekker Road began in February and entailed replacing paving on both sides of Voortrekker Road, paving the road surface, installing and replacing services, and installing tree planters.

“Restaurants located on this edge will eventually be encouraged to utilise the areas in front of their shops for extra seating as the road has been re-paved and semi-pedestrianised.” He said the second phase was due to start within the next few months.

“This will entail the resurfacing of the square, planting of trees, implementation of a water feature, installation of a public art installation, the construction of an amphitheatre and installation of public lighting.”

George Sieraha, who heads the Durbanville Community Forum, said people were extremely positive about the project.

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Cape Argus

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