Often things happen that we cannot avoid; people break things, lights go out or things just really need to get done that we need the City of Cape Town to help us out with.  These are just a few things taken care of this month (there are many more):

Street lights are being fixed around Blackheath; the particular photos below come from Warrior Crescent in front of TJ’s Lekka Braai. It was reported a long while back that all the lights had been stripped of their underground cables in this street.  Thieves then also began to remove the Street Lamp Poles as well.  Following calls from the Blackheath City Improvement District, the City of Cape Town and Eskom have a joint approach to solving the problem relating to damage to electrical infrastructure in Warrior Crescent and the poles, lights and fixtures are currently being repaired and replaced.

Cleansing

Just as we keep working to maintain the area so we keep you posted on our progress.  May has seen several focal points addressed.  Firstly, we finished cleaning up the massive mess on the corner of Artisan Way and Wimbledon Road that was left by a container many months back.  We can all be glad to be rid of the eye-sore.

We have also managed to make significant progress in Anfield, Trafford and Gooderson Road – making sure that the roads are swept and the garbage is gathered up and taken away.  We would like to also note the council’s involvement this past month with the Winter Preparedness Programme and their work in keeping the area clean and tidy.

The last week of May has seen the team in Barewood Close and Warrior Crescent, making sure that these areas are cleaned up.  Barewood Close, near the Blackheath Station, is proving to be a significant task – but we are steadily working through it and should be done by the end of May, weather permitting.

We also do our regular Monday sweep of Range Road between the traffic light and the 4-way stop; cleared the walk-way near the train-crossing in Buttskop Road; and cleaned the mess on the corner of Nicole and Range Roads.  We would like to thank those who brought specific areas to our attention – this helped us to identify problems and deal with them effectively.

Online
A reminder to all that we have a Facebook page up and running.  We would love to see you all liking it and keeping up-to-date with our weekly happenings.  Follow the link and join up. Otherwise pass on the message and get everyone in your company to join.  We are all a part of the Blackheath family and I want to share what we do with everybody.  So to keep informed go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blackheath-City-Improvement-District/163386323677478.

Also don’t forget that we have a website (https://www.bcid.co.za/) that you can look through.  Keeping your details on the website helps people to find out who operates from Blackheath Industria.  For this reason we need to make sure that all our information is updated.  The website has a directory that we want to ensure is accurate – so please email me your details so that I can make sure your company is in the directory.  Just email me at jean@bcid.co.za with your name, the name of your company, your company’s address, company contact number and a brief description of what you manufacture, produce, provide as a service, etc.  Your contribution will help me to help you, so that we can point the area’s clientele in the right direction.

Our Schools

A friendly reminder to all that we have schools in Happy Valley that the Blackheath City Improvement District supports and tries to aid as best we can, but we cannot do this without your assistance.  Any form of donation i.e. pens, pencils, erasers, old story books, etc. are always welcome and all we ask for.  We try our best to help out where we can, but we can only do so much.  So if there is anything you have available or are able to gather around your office then please let me know at jean@bcid.co.za. If you want to keep up-to-date with what is happening at the schools we do weekly updates on the Facebook pages.  So visit https://www.facebook.com/AphilayoAmanzi to see what is happening at the Grade R School (run and supported by Sing for Africa) or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-Feet-Cr%C3%A8che/160881017258062 to keep in touch with the youngsters at the crèche who are fun-loving and filled with child-like wonder.

The boys at Happy Feet Crèche

Online Updates: Simply Easy

We here at BCID like to keep you up-to-date regularly; so apart from this newsletter we have a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blackheath-City-Improvement-District/163386323677478) up and running.  Liking the page and following our posts will allow you to see and hear what is happening on a weekly basis.  It will also give you the platform to comment or make any suggestions – which we always welcome!

Facebook is not our only online medium of communication; we also have a website (https://www.bcid.co.za/) that you can visit.  Here you will find the Blackheath Business Directory that is an online medium to assist visitors to the Blackheath area to locate companies within the Blackheath CID footprint.  So please email me your details so that I can make sure your company is listed in the directory.  Just email me at jean@bcid.co.za with your name, the name of your company, your company’s address, company contact number and a brief description of what you manufacture, produce, provide as a service, etc.  Your contribution will help me to help you, so that we can point the area’s clientele in the right direction.

Hearing from You

We are also renewing memberships and conducting the annual Blackheath City Improvement District Survey.  So if you hear from me or see me wandering around – then chances are I am finding my way to you.  The survey is there to hear from you and get an idea of your concerns and suggestions.  Please use it as a means of keeping us informed.  We like hearing from you and this is one of the ways in which we facilitate that connection.  Should you have any questions, or feel I have not paid a visit to you quickly enough, then please feel free to email me @ jean@bcid.co.za, or give me a call 021 905 0929 or 072 460 2010.  See you soon!

Our Schools

Education is the key to a prosperous nation.  So helping out where we can is not only a pleasure, but also a social responsibility.  We at BCID try to play our part in supporting the schools in Happy Valley; Aphilayo Amanzi (https://www.facebook.com/AphilayoAmanzi) and Happy Feet Crèche (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Happy-Feet-Cr%C3%A8che/160881017258062); whether through the donation of paper, pencils and colour crayons that they can write on / with, or assisting as a benefactor for them on behalf of the companies in the CID who are keen to help and contribute.  The expectation is never high and even a box of recycled paper (with one side clean of writing) can be used by the children.  Anything is always welcome and we open our doors to those who want to bring pens, pencils, paper and other supplies.

Aphilayo Amanzi

Happy Feet Crèche

We know of many companies who have already given so much and it is great to see them taking a leading role in the development of our little ones.  We encourage all to help out, so follow the links above to the Facebook pages and have a look for yourself to see where you feel you can add to their education and the future of these children.

Cleansing

Artisan Way: Clear of Port Jacksons

City Improvement is our name and cleaning is (part) of our game.  We cleansed all the streets in Blackheath again this month with additional help from the City of Cape Town’s Cleansing staff who also worked through the area in April.  Our guys really tackled Blackheath this month – not only with regular litter patrol, but also the systematic removal of a lot of Port Jacksons.  When you’re driving around take a look and you will see far fewer aliens (and I mean the plant kind, not the little grey men kind).  We cleared the corner of School Road and Range Road; Range Road next to the station and Artisan Way.  It is surprising to see how open the area is now that they are gone.

Wimbledon Road: Getting there!

We have even started getting stuck into the garbage dumped in Wimbledon Road, which I am sure many of you are well aware of.  After failed attempts at getting the Officials responsible for the rubble to come and remove this mess we have decided enough is enough and our guys are knuckling down and digging in (literally).

BCID

Another month has come and gone and we can resolutely say that April is the month of transition. So many things change as the year gets stuck in and even the weather cannot make up its mind. Fortunately we are here to keep you on track: unchanging and unrelenting.

NEWSFLASH: The BIG COVER UP – Still Covering Up!

Marilyn Bradley of Blindfold Blinds is in the area with her project “The Big Cover Up”.  You may recall the article in last month’s newsletter introducing you to the idea; well we are happy to say things are starting to gain momentum.  We are sure we don’t have to remind anyone of the pleasure of being able to close a curtain and sink into the privacy of your own home.  It is a luxury we take for granted, and Marilyn is trying to bring this luxury to the people of Happy Valley, at a relatively low cost.

As the companies of Blackheath most of us work with the residents of Happy Valley every day.  They are our staff, employees, volunteers – and we want them to feel at home here with us.  So why not give a little back?  Marilyn is calling around, so be on the lookout – and if you feel inclined to help out then we encourage you to do so.  Sixty-five houses have already been “blindfolded” and we thank Cape Concrete, Macadams, Energy Oil, Pallet Supply and all those who have independently contributed.  A little can go a long way!

If you want to go the extra mile and take a step forward, then feel free to contact her at (021) 671-2133 or directly (082) 784-4440.