Mason Street businesses continue to suffer due to bungled municipal decision
Business owners in the area are still haunted by the municipality’s poor decision as the pavement in front of their businesses was widened in order to build the foundations for the shelters.
LIFE has never been the same for businesses on the Plaza side of Mason Street following AbaQulusi Municipality’s attempts to build shelters for hawkers in the area.
It all started in 2014 when AbaQulusi Municipality decided to redo the look of this part of Mason street by building stalls for the hawkers that sold their goods outside the businesses.
A year later, the stalls were built and it was clear from there on that the hawkers were happy where they were and had no intentions to move into the stalls.
ALSO READ: Mayor tackles Mason Street mayhem
This became a nuisance to business owners in the area as their businesses now stood behind these shelters, making it difficult for potential customers to see the businesses.
After months of going back and forth, the municipality eventually agreed that they had made a massive boo-boo and the shelters were demolished.
Now, years later, business owners in the area are still haunted by the municipality’s poor decision as the pavement in front of their businesses was widened in order to build the foundations for the shelters.
“This has made life very difficult for us as we now do not have parking space for ourselves and our customers,” said Doctor Y Vahed who has a surgery in the area.
ALSO READ: Store owners not allowed to destroy shelters
The fact that some taxi drivers have also moved their operations into this narrow street has been no help.
“Leaving your car parked outside on this road is always a risk as there are chances it might get bumped or scratched by passing vehicles, but what can one do?” he asked.
Business owners in the area said that things would be much better if the municipality were to remove the paving that was added as this would widen the road and allow for traffic to flow easier.
The business owners in Mason Street say that they have communicated this issue to the municipality but to no avail.
The Vryheid Herald has contacted the municipal manager’s office with regards to the matter and awaits a response.
Get regular news updates. Follow the Vryheid Herald on Facebook and Twitter.
Got news? Email estella@caxton.co.za or Whatsapp 0792567570.
