The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has promised to clear an abandoned construction site at East Grove, Valsayn, which was ravaged by a bush fire that almost destroyed nine homes on Sunday.
The fire, which took place around 10 am, started at the abandoned site and began to spread to the nearby homes and a WASA treatment plant, the residents in a letter stated.
“Due to the severity of the blaze, it took fire officers several hours before they could have contained it,” the letter stated.
The residents complained that for three years they have been asking HDC and those in authority to properly maintain the site, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
“The residents have requested that the derelict machinery and vehicles and containers be removed. Most recently, we have been the victims of break-ins, two on the January 11, 2019 and then again an attempt on February 8, 2019,” the letter further stated.
The claimed that footage of these incidences showed that the site had been overgrown with towering grass.
“It is being used by bandits to hide before they make their move to break-in. Yesterday could have been a serious tragedy for us home owners and our families,” the residents stated.
In response to the residents’ plight, HDC’s manager of corporate communications Dike Noel gave the assurance that the matter will be addressed with urgency.
“Our Estate Management team will be charged with treating with the concerns identified by the residents,” Noel said.