The City of Cape Town recently announced that the St James Beach project will commence within the next few days. The derelict bathing boxes will be replaced with replicas, and the beach area itself will be getting an upgrade with a widened walkway and a picnic area for visitors.
Also read: Muizenberg beachfront is getting an upgrade – have your say
According to the City of Cape Town, the project will commence within the next few days and should be complete by the end of November, before the start of the December holiday period.
The City says the St James Beach is one of the iconic beach destinations along the False Bay coastline with visitors flocking to this tourist area over weekends and public holidays. The iconic bathing boxes are synonymous with this beach and it’s a part of the town’s heritage.
In addition, given the derelict state of the existing bathing boxes, the City has decided to replace these with new bathing boxes.
“We will also improve the walkway and seating area so that visitors can use this space for picnicking. I’m asking residents and visitors to please be patient while the project is under way, and to avoid the areas where work is happening,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Also read: New railings installed along the walkway between Muizenberg and St James
The proposed upgrades for the project entails the following:
- Bathing boxes – the City will remove the derelict bathing boxes and replace nine during the first phase, and two or three more in the next financial year.
- The walkway will be widened by 0,5m between the first set of steps and the second set of steps close to the ablutions. Once completed, it will be 1,9m wide to comfortably accommodate more pedestrians, or it will be used as seating.
- The section of the walkway between the ablutions and the seaward point will be widened to 2,8m and the area will be accessible by wheelchair and prams.
- A seating wall and a sitting step will be added along the seaward edge to provide a stepped seating area with great views of the beach, tidal pool and Simon’s Town.
- The picnic area will be upgraded by adding topsoil and new grass.
- The area between the ablutions and seaward point will not have bathing boxes anymore, which will improve the view towards Simon’s Town and provide more space for recreational users.
- The entrance area will be improved with the surfacing of untidy sections.
- The shower facilities will be improved by shifting them to a new concrete slab off the beach.
Local Ward Councillor, Aimee Kuhl, said they are excited about these improvements that will benefit the community and visitors to this iconic beach.
“We have engaged the local ratepayers’ association and other residents who indicated their support for the project. This is a welcome and much needed effort to maintain and improve the St. James beach to ensure it remains an attractive destination for locals and tourists,” concludes Kuhl.
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