Roadworks impact negatively on family business

ROADWORKS along Clark Road have had a detrimental affect on the popular little coffee shop at the intersection of Bulwer and Clark Roads.

Owner of Jumeli Cafe, Anthony Nagan, has seen an 80 per cent dwindling in his patrons over recent months because the roadworks outside the business, where new cabling is being laid to feed the new substation, has taken up the patron parking outside the venue and the rubble, dust and sand have made it impossible for patrons to sit and enjoy their coffee and orders.

The project has taken more than four months to complete, and have not only affected Jumeli’s patrons due to lack of parking, but made it virtually impossible for the average pedestrian to navigate the pavement. The road was only tarred over at the end of last week, however rubble still remains on the pavement.

Nagan, said his business was usually open on a Saturday from 8am to 1pm, as well as during the week, but due to the roadworks on the coffee shop’s doorstep, business dropped drastically and it was no longer feasible to open on a weekend.

“When we arrived to work on a Monday, it was terrible, with the dirt and debris lying on the pavement outside. People even started stealing the barricade. On one of my business days I had three sand trucks parked on the pavement and I had to close for the day, which resulted in a loss of business. I also had to close last Friday because of the dust,” he said.

Nagan said he received no formal notification of the roadworks ahead of the start of the project, and only on the day workers arrived on site was he informed of the plans.

“The foreman on duty told me what was happening, and when I asked why no formal communication was given to me ahead of the work, I was told the printers had not been working so they were not able to notify me in advance! I was told a walkway would be put in place for my customers, but this was not done, there is no parking available and dust and noise was a problem and put people off,” he said.

Nagan said he understood the need for the fibre optic cables to be laid in the road, however he couldn’t understand why it took so long to complete the job.

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“Each time I asked when work would be completed, I was told it wouldn’t be long, but this went on for months. I was told the cables were finished and now rehabilitation work was to be done, two weeks ago,” he said, adding that at the end of August, for a period of three weeks work came to a standstill.

Nagan said his negative cash flow impacted on his ability to meet his commitments to the landlord and he was in arrears with his rent.

“I have had to let my barista and waitress go as there were not enough patrons and income,” he said.

Commenting on the length of time it took to complete work ont he road, Councillor Mmabatho Tembe said she had spoken to the main contractor weekly to get reports as she had initially been told the project would only take a few weeks to complete.

“The main issue was contractual problems, along with weather and shoddy workmanship. The tarring has been done, however the contractor has left a mess behind in both Clark and Helen Joseph Roads, and I have asked Metro Police to tow a sand truck which remains on the side of Bulwer Park. I received complaints from many residents that the job was not done well, that work was done at night and not during the day. I am just glad the roads are now open and will monitor that the sand and rubble is removed. I have contacted various departments regarding this,” she said.