Businessmen object to park and pay
Some of the businessmen are concerned this will chase their customers away.
PORT Shepstone businessmen are not pleased with the Hibiscus Coast Municipality council’s resolution to introduce a park and pay system. This was revealed at a meeting held at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
HCM has contracted a new service provider, ItraMAS Corporation Africa to operate the new parking management system, in Port Shepstone CBD, Marburg, Margate, Shelly Beach, St Michaels, Port Edward and Hibberdene, to ensure the public has easy access to parking spaces in order to reduce congestion.
The new system, which is to be installed over the next few months, will see motorists paying for parking at fixed parking meters.
Some of the businessmen have raised concerns regarding the new system, saying it will chase their customers away.
“I don’t see how this parking system will work since the first one failed,” said an angry businessman. “We need customers in the CBD. By introducing this system the municipality will be chasing our customers away. Customers will have to cough up more as they will be forced to pay for parking too,” he added. Sabeer Sheik Ibrahim, the CEO of ItraMAS Corporation Africa, assured businessmen at the meeting that this system has been tested in other towns and has worked.
Method of paying will be as follows: R2 per 20 minutes, R3 per 30 minutes and R6 an hour. Non-payment, or any other violation of the parking system, will carry a fine of R200. Non payments of fines within the stipulated timeframe will lead to a summons issued to the motorist.
“The new parking system will provide employment to local residents, as car guards will be employed, given uniforms and trained to assist motorists with the new parking system, as well as to watch over the vehicles parked and to guide motorists to open parking bays,”concluded Mr Ibrahim.
