Our History
During 1999 Dowerglen Extension 4 experienced an average of three crime related incidents a week which included armed hi-jacking. This urged residents into action and motivated a small bunch of committed residents to pursue the need for a road closure.
With the initial financial assistance of Jonathan Hall and Carol Stewart and greatly supported by Eric Gibson of Pam Golding Real Estate, the consultants P.U.R. were appointed to obtain the first road closure for Dowerglen Ext 4. A Section 21 company named Dower Estates Home Owners Association was formed during 2000. The dedicated residents – and perhaps at the time, the self appointed first committee, mobilsed and literally “walked the streets” to obtain the necessary support to enable the closure to be established. Although there was overwhelming support the committee nevertheless had to deal with some dissenting residents.
The long nights pounding pavements, knocking on doors and warding off dogs paid off and great was our joy when the road closure was approved! Immediately work commenced on obtaining authority to build a guard house on Essenhout Street. Barend Kruger a resident in Essenhout, offered not only to provide the upfront capital, but also to build the Essenhout guard house in keeping with the quality of the area. This was gratefully accepted and an agreement of a levy holiday was made.
At great expense a palisade fence had to be erected around the park from Elm Place to the Juniper Drive entrance as Elmwood had not been built and this complex had to be included in our plans before a guard house could be built. During 2000, electronic booms and a tag management system was installed which remains the envy of other road closures in the area. The system, cameras and cabling are constantly being maintained and improved.
Apart from a few minor incidents that were directly related to particular residents we have had no serious incidents for the past six years. Since its inception our road closure renewal applications have been successful; the various members of the committee have given of their free time to ensure the smooth running albeit difficult at times.
By enlarge the closure has been an overwhelming success and has supported the local police in their effort to combat crime – not only petty but violent – as criminals choose other areas over Dowerglen Ext 4. Dowerglen Extension 4 residents have always taken pride of in getting involved in monitoring access control and security; sound financial accounting; maintaining entrance gardens and parks which is something to be proud of for resident and visitor alike!
