Page 95 - Bulletin 13 2009

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The negotiations were complicated by misunderstandings and the need to take into
account the implications of two other major concurrent constructions. The first of these

was the High Level road from Muizenberg to Kalk Bay which began simultaneously at
both ends in 1923 and was planned to continue southwards round Trappies Kop to come

down to a junction on the Clovelly Road. The second was the doubling, widening,

straightening, and electrification of the railway which began in 1927.

At the heart of the complications was land ownership along the road – rail corridor and
confusion about who owned which pieces: in some areas Council needed Railways land

for road widening while in others the Railways needed not only Council land for rail
widening but also some of the coastal rock and beach areas. This introduced a further

complication as the local community were determined to protect their beach amenities.

Given the wealth and status concentrated in the area they constituted a force to be
reckoned with. It is a long story the main points of which have been sourced from the

relevant Annual Mayor’s Minute and are summarised below:

Mayor’s Minute Sept. 1922: A Plan prepared by Railways Administration showed a

piece of land from the Seahurst subway to Kalk Bay station available for Main Road
widening. “…..this section of the road formed a dangerous bottleneck.” This plan was

agreed to on 22/9/1921.

Mayor’s Minute Sept. 1923: The above went back to the SAR for consideration. The

CCC meanwhile authorised its Streets and Drainage Committee to finalise terms with
the SAR and submit to Council for confirmation.

The Streets & Drainage Committee (chaired by Cllr. Abdurahman) recommended that
an Agreement be sought with the SAR for widening the full length of Main Road from

Kalk Bay Station to Silvermine River – similar to the Agreement that had been entered
into for the widening of the stretch from Muizenberg – St. James.

Mayor’s Minute Sept. 1925: An Agreement was reached between the CCC and the SAR
on 11/12/1924 involving an exchange of land: the SAR would give up a strip and the