There was great excitement among Hermanus residents and visitors about the connection of the Cliff Path at Poole’s Bay.
“Every day we are adding metre by metre of coastal path,” Jobre Stassen from the Cliff Path Action Group (CPAG) said after construction started on 7 February. “We are proud of this achievement. We are using local businesses to complete this path.”
The excitement of the connection was short-lived when the Poole’s Bay Residents’ Association delivered a Notice of Motion against the CPAG on 7 March to stop the construction.
“We were shocked when we received an interdict that will stop all progress of our long-awaited, hard-fought path,” Stassen explained on a WhatsApp group. “The future of Hermanus cannot be determined by a handful of residents.”
Rumours were also doing the rounds that there were only four plot owners who supported the interdict, and the issues cited are simply a reiteration of matters already dismissed by the province and Cape Nature.
Social-media platforms were abuzz about the interdict. “Whatever needs to be done, financially or otherwise, we will do to fight this utterly selfish act,” one WhatsApp user said.
Stassen was stunned by the support of the residents, saying it had been a long-standing battle to connect the Cliff Path at Poole’s Bay, and everything had been done by the book before construction started. On one Facebook page the construction attracted more than 25 000 views. “There is a small minority creating every possible obstacle, doing their best to derail the process. We have dealt with every query in the past on an entirely professional level. The path is entirely on public land.
“From now onwards we are involving our supporters, making them aware of the ongoing bullies behind the scenes, the Stalingrad technique of unfounded legal battles. The entire path is on coastal public land, the area between the horizon and the high watermark. Lots of space to build a 1,2 m wide path without encroaching on private properties. The public has missed out for so many years.”
The CPAG also set up a petition on 8 March in support of completing the Hermanus Cliff Path. To date 2 346 (at the time of going to press) signatures were received. This is not the first time the Poole’s Bay Residents’ Association has tried to stop the Cliff Path. In 2022 an appeal was lodged by the Poole’s Bay Residents’ Association, which was against the construction. Some of its concerns included who was going to be in charge of the maintenance and in charge of the safety, and whether the construction would be an eyesore to the users and residents of Poole’s Bay.
Hermanus Times reported on this issue on 1 November 2023 (“Construction to go ahead”) when Poole’s Bay residents raised concern about the approval of the Cliff Path. They believed it would not only give access to criminals, but also reduce the value of surrounding properties.
Stassen said the Cliff Path is managed and maintained by the CPAG and as far as safety is concerned there were plans in place. “There are only two access points either side of the linear development that will be closed during storm days.
“I want to make it clear we will not be bullied by anyone, and we will do everything in our power to finish this project that will be an asset to Hermanus. Thank you for your support.” . The CPAG is a non-profit organisation with public-benefit organisation status. The project was initiated seven years ago by a group of Hermanus volunteers who came together as the CPAG to provide public access to the coastline. Visit www.hermanuscliffpath.com or find them on Facebook: Hermanus Cliff Path Action Group for more information.
