George Joubert Writes: Well said! You are SOOOOO right!

Hi Trevor,

Well said! You are SOOOOO right!

However, I do believe that the MAGIC of communication with the market, total transparency and being willing to accept advice or recommendations from the marketplace is sorely missing!

The Devil as we marketers know is always in the DETAIL!!!

I do, however, disagree with you that everything is hunky dory in the land of Lonehill! (For the record, never said 'everything is hunky dory', am complimenting where compliments are due. TN)

Yes, there have been subtle improvements over the previous regime’s efforts but like in any failing business, if one reaches rock bottom there can ONLY be one way to go and that is up or one closes down! The bar has NOT been raised far enough I am afraid to say!

Our security costs for the service deliverance we receive are far too high! Studio Park has just been slapped with an eight per cent. increase for a couple of guards at the gate who push a remote to open the booms. Yet Fidelity refuse to help me implement a wheel-clamping procedure for the illegal parkers! I have to take the criticism, “parking rage” outbursts from the owners and tenants!

The LRA have not reached the standards and the vision that the likes of you and the originators of LSAG set almost eight year’s ago!

I see minor cosmetic changes being worked on like best garden prizes, cheaper AA rates (are most of us aware that this is probably covered by our motor insurance policies?), WiFI and lucky draws but what about the thieving, hijacking, robberies, ill-will, the noise and dog pollution (both ends) that abounds and what about those who benefit from the security initiative and are not members of the LRA? Are these figures even available?

This is still very evident from where I sit as Chairman of Studio Office Park Owner’s Association and as a Director of our cluster home Section 21 Company.

I, personally, have had two instances in the past two week’s of a vagrant just walking into my back garden after having breached the front gate system! He followed one of the residents into the complex!

My wife is on her own there during the day but thank goodness for our Bull Terrier which does not cost us over R15,400 a month (the cost of the guard’s at the Studio Park gate)!

Let the LRA do a survey in those two areas alone and I think they will be shocked by the outcome. What ever happened to the Lonehill “temperature survey” that was mooted?

An example of how details are being allowed to erode in Lonehill are the “booms” that were placed across pathways -- to stop the irritating off-road racers – which are broken in many places!

Dumping is taking place all around us!

The other smaller Lonehill “dam” is a disgrace!

Perhaps those who have not lived in Lonehill as long as I have, have not seen how pretty it was with clear water and beautiful reeds and brimming with bird life!

The ESCOM sub-station at the end of Concourse Crescent, is not going to enhance its immediate surrounds once completed unless action is taken immediately. The fence Escom have placed around it has all but blocked that bridle path used by many in the past.

The bridle paths are overgrown with weeds and rubbish!

Take a walk up the one that runs from opposite Fabz’s Estate. Someone has placed a fence across the top end which now prevents one using that bridle path!

Is this legal?

Incidentally, Fabz has been sold and if the LRA were on the ball they would start discussion with the new owners right away!

I know that this communiqué will again be construed as negative criticism but as you and many are aware, I have never been one to shut-up when justice needs to be done!

I would also like to ensure that “OUR” (the residents’ asset) now worth in excess of R3.2-million is “protected” in the future! Once the “old-timers” who know the true Lonehill security story are lost in the mists of time! It is not good enough to just say that it can only be bought by a similar organization to the LRA! How does that protect OUR investment? What if the LRA is disbanded?

The original LSAG’s (Lonehill Security Action Group) members’ money was used to pay for that asset!

And I could go on and on!

Have a great day!

You may post this on your blog if you like! It is food for thought by all thinking Lonehillers!

Regards,
George

George L Joubert
Managing Director
Ambis Group (Pty) Ltd.
Tel +27 (0) 11 465 5930
Fax +27 (0) 11 465 1048
Mobile +27 (0) 83 250 6251
Website - http://www.ambis-sa.com
Email - George@Ambis-sa.com