Noisy eateries taken to task

NOISY restaurants on Florida Road have been taken to task by irate residents, sector police and ward councillor Martin Meyer.

This comes after numerous complaints as well as walkabouts by police and local sector members. “We understand they are running a business, which we are not complaining about, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of residents. A club licence doesn’t allow a business to disturb the peace. Restaurants should have background music, not speakers on their outside verandas or DJs. People don’t want to fight with businesses, but there needs to be respect for the residents in the road as well and they need to adhere to the by-laws,” said resident and secretary of Berea sector 2 policing, Nicky Burke.

She said the problem was an ongoing one and required the joint forces of SAPS, sector policing, residents, the UIP and Metro. “It has become really apparent that although there are complaints and on the odd occasion someone from SAPS or Metro does actually follow up on these, there is no follow up or follow through on the complaints any further from there,” she said.

The sector organised a walkabout on 22 March with Metro Police, who warned businesses flouting the rules that they would remove their equipment if they were called out again on a noise complaint. Burke said she had also contacted Sgt Trevor James from Berea SAPS to do a walkabout two weeks ago.

James said complaints of noise plagued Florida Road and added to complaints of the theft of motor vehicles, dealing in drugs and recent incidents of business burglaries. “From the sector commander’s point of view, the compliance issue has been there for ages. In 2012 the problem was as serious as it is now. The late Steve Martin and I dealt with it by first meeting with the businesses and telling them the issues we were having in terms of compliance and also the complaints from the residence and it worked. The idea is to close the gap between business and community. There are numerous restaurants and a few nightclubs in the area and most people do not know the different calibre of licences some of these businesses have in terms of closing and so on,” he said.

“We need to educate both communities of each others’ plight and find a solution. Many of these businesses have been fined by the police and the various government departments, however we still get the same issues and complaints regularly,” he said, adding that he and the sector would be calling businesses to meet with them. Thereafter there would be a general public meeting so that businesses could hear firsthand the problems residents were having and find a workable solution to the problems.

“The new liquor laws are in the early stages and in the near future should prove to be a good tool in curbing those businesses flouting the law. Most businesses should feel the bite of the liquor inspector shortly,” said Sgt James.

Ward councillor Martin Meyer, said: “It is unfortunately true that new so-called restaurants have opened, and these new role players are now also pushing the boundaries, thinking they can run clubs. Together with the CPF I am working on a holistic approach to this renewed problem. I, like the residents, welcome restaurants on Florida Road, but business owners must understand that they are in a residential area, and act as responsible players in the area.”

“Businesses need to tow the line and we need businesses to work with the community in this regard. Residents are happy to have them in the area, but have invested huge amounts of money in their houses, so it can’t be at the expense of their lives,” said Burke.