Zara Nicholson
Metro Writer
THE Good Hope subcouncil is calling for the demolition of an illegally built wall and pool at a Clifton bungalow saying it “stands out as a glaring example of a building that has broken virtually every building regulation”.
Yesterday the subcouncil considered the latest building applications by the property owner, Vivian Imerman, who lives abroad. It said it was time to take action against the owner who had done previous work which contravened building regulations.
Good Hope subcouncil chairman Taki Amira said: “This sub-council does not support any of the applications. Here we have a property owner who lives abroad and comes here on holiday.
“This stands out as a glaring example of a building that has broken virtually every building regulation there is. There is glass, aluminium and marble and that construction is completely non-compliant with city zoning and building laws.”
He said based on the comments and opinions received during a site visit, it was clear the property was “completely undesirable in the area and not in the context of the Clifton bungalows scheme”.
The subcouncil will now apply or recommend to the city’s planning department to have an illegal wall and the pool demolished.
“We are calling for the matter to be investigated and to get the demolition order as a matter of urgency.
“This property is built contrary to the nature and fabric of the area and it is totally unacceptable.”
Amira added that the city should not be deterred from taking action against wealthy people, “just because they have money to fight it”.
Ward councillor for the area Beverley Schafer said the illegally built wall was seven metres high from the basement level and that city regulation stated that a wall abutting a public walkway should not be higher than four metres.
Schafer said the pool also contravened zoning and building regulations since it went over the boundary on to public land.
“We need to call for an investigation into all the bungalows in the area,because we need to protect the heritage of the area – we don’t want to look at the area in 10 years’ time and it’s not what it was supposed to be. This property is an ideal example of what is not in line with the character of the area,” Schafer said.
The property owner will have the right to appeal as the subcouncil has rejected the latest applications to put granite cladding near the pool.
Schafer added: “This property violates every box we tick with building regulations and it is completely outside of what Clifton should look like.”
The subcouncil will now also call for the guidelines policy of the Clifton bungalow scheme, which has been in draft stage for years, to be formalised.
“We have to get the guidelines formally adopted because if we don’t, then we are going to have Clifton look like a miniature Monaco and we cannot set a precedent with allowing this work which is way out of the norm for the area,” Schafer added.