Ayliff Street businesses under pressure

Certain businesses on Ayliff Street are recording losses of about 30 per cent since the commencement of road upgrades this year. Meanwhile, working ‘conditions’ mean the road will only reopen in December.

Communicating via email and telephone from Pongola, owner of Tony’s Tool Hire, Andries Erlank called the closure of Ayliff Street ‘a nightmare’. Mr Erlank believes the bulk of his losses has been caused by the closing off of the Paterson Street intersection, owing to much of his clientele stemming from that area.

Nearby businesses reported the same. Principal of MSC College, Andria Els said the turnout for the open day was physical proof the road closure was ruining business for the institution.

The college has also been burgled multiple times, most recently on October 28. Burglars smashed a rear-facing window at the college to gain access to a classroom, before making off with components of one of the desktop computers.

Mrs Els explained how vagrants had attempted to ‘move in’ at the college premises, while prostitution was taking place right outside the gates. A total of 42 condoms have been removed since the road closure.

Coupling these concerns with heavy fumes and vibrations from industrial machinery, Mrs Els said residents dreaded travelling down Ayliff Street, giving businesses a knock.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Simon Kotlolo said the road would reopen in early December, with delays blamed on having to accommodate business and residential traffic during the road’s upgrade.