Finding parking solutions for Greenside’s business strip
An attempt to find alternative solutions to alleviate parking in the Greenside business hub is in progress.
Similar to plans of their neighbouring suburb Parkhurst, Greenside’s residents’ association has voiced an interest in introducing a park and ride facility that will see fewer cars parking on Gleneagles and Greenway roads.
Gleneagles Road has become a popular location for young people because of its restaurants and bars.
According to chairperson of the residents’ association, Carol Millard, in the past few years the Greenside business hub has experienced problems with bylaw infringements and lack of bylaw enforcement that have led to parking chaos, noise, disturbances and security problems.
“Many students visit the area, and at times one finds them parking on the street and drinking in their cars instead of buying from the bars,” she explained.
“These are the kind of habits that we want to move away from – people coming to visit the strip need to support the business here and also in return, the businesses can monitor and restrict their drinking.”
Millard, together with representatives from the Greenside Business Association met with the deputy director of Johannesburg’s Transport Systems Management, Nobantu Ciko to discuss finding an alternative parking system for those visiting the area.
A professor at a local college and member of the businesses association Desmond Laubscher, said although many business owners on the strip preferred patrons parking on the street, there was a real need to formalise parking and resolve many of the negative issues associated with street parking.
Pirates Sports and Rugby Club was identified as one of the locations for a park and ride facility. However, the club’s media liaison, Non Welsford said although the club did not mind students parking on its premises during the day, there were concerns of space limitations for public parking during the club’s peak hours.
“We know students from the college need parking and by all means, daytime parking is welcomed – but already, in the evening and during sporting weekends, our parking area gets so full,” she said.
“I will be talking to management about the issue, but I am not sure if the club premises could be shared with Gleaneagles evening and weekend patrons. The matter will still be discussed though.”
