A note to all sponsors of the Parkdene Baptist Manse project.
As you are aware this particular project was stopped last October due to a discrepancy in the planning application. The issue arose due to a disputed boundary line which we had built on. The reason why it has taken so long to resolve is due to the fact that the old municipality records (pre- apartheid) show a different boundary line to the existing files. We were given preliminary authority based on the old accounts, but four days into the project the local building control department stopped our efforts and stated the preliminary permission we were granted was no longer valid.
What followed was a period of re- avaluation. New plans had to be drawn and submitted as well as new engineering reports. As you can appreciate all this has taken some time.
In conclusion we are now having to move the building 3.5 meters as well as enclose the exterior stairwell, and they have also refused our plans to build a septic tank for the houses. This now means we have to tie into the municipal lines, which of course they benefit financially from.
At present we are expecting to receive the final permission within the next few weeks. As you are aware from our recent newsletter, Brian McCormick and family arrive on the 30th Aug (new LHH project co-ordinator). The plan is for him to pick up from where he and his team left off last year. Please continue to pray for us and thank you for your patience.