Domoina Lane still a shambles

SPARE a thought for the businesses, both formal and informal, in Domoina Lane and down in Mason Street, west of the Plaza Taxi Rank. It’s the end of February, we’re one sixth of the way through 2014, and the area can still be best described as a total gemors.

Domoina Lane and this part of Mason Street (between Church and Utrecht streets) was identified as being in need of rehabilitation as part of the regeneration of Vryheid’s Central Business District (CBD). The implementation of the upgrade to the area was not without some controversy when the formal business sector in the area felt that they had not be adequately consulted in the formulation of the upgrade plans.

Work began late last year on a plan that appeared idyllic – fancy streetlights, trees and shrubs, designated sites for the informal traders. Since work began, chaos has reigned in the area, chaos not assisted by the contractor closing for the December holidays and then apparently not resuming work in the new year.

By Tuesday this week, it did appear that some progress had been made at the western end of Domoina Lane, but lower down towards the Plaza, it was as chaotic as ever. Mason Street is inaccessible to the right (how do those businesses get deliveries?), and to the left towards Utrecht Street, Mason Street has been narrowed by pile of sand, stone, bricks, pipes. It’s a mess.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? It really doesn’t look like it. Attempts to get comment from the Development and Planning Department of AbaQulusi Municipality have been unsuccessful.