The Mandela Bay Development Agency and the Richmond Hill Residents Association have unveiled a five year plan that they say will improve services and increase property values in Richmond Hill, Port Elizabeth.
They say the implementation of the Metro's first Special Rating Area master plan for Richmond Hill will begin with immediate effect.
The Special Rating Area means that special levies, in addition to rates collected by the municipality since July last year, will now be transferred to the Richmond Hill Community Company for the sole purpose of improving aspects of service delivery within that geographic area.
Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, SRA Director, Kevin Slattery, said the initiative was based on a successful programme which took place in Cape Town.
"This has come on the back bone of a very successful programme in Cape town. I think most people can identify the success and the upgrade that took place at Sea Point which had degenerated very badly. The SRA is a vehicle where the suburbs can take charge of their own destiny. We firmly believe that this is a formalized structure to include all residents to contribute to a better future of their suburb." said Slattery.
