Offloading taxis block quiet Glenwood cul-de-sac

RESIDENTS living in York Avenue, Glenwood, a quiet one-way street, say their lives have been disrupted by a business operating from a block of flats in the road.

Speaking to Berea Mail, resident Ginger Subramoney, said the block of flats had been bought by a person who had been planning to establish a student res in the building, however, when residents got wind of this, they contacted the municipality, as there had been no consultation with residents.

Subramoney said the plans for the student res were thwarted, however the building now seemed to have been outsourced to an individual who was running what seemed to be holiday accommodation, and students and children were dropped off at all hours of the night in large taxis at the premises.

“As far as we know, there needs to be a licence for this type of thing, and once again there has been no community consultation. This morning we couldn’t get out of our road as taxis were parked all over,” he said, adding that this was a narrow one-way road, which had now become a bustling hive of activity. He said there were up to 30 people to one taxi, and said at times the road looked like a taxi rank.

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“We feel metro police need to do something about this. Every time we call the call centre for a reference and to get Metro Police to come out, nothing happens. I have emailed the director of law enforcement and been to see Metro representatives, but nothing is happening,” he said.

Another concerned resident who lives in the neighbouring block, Heather Biddington, said: “Up to six taxis come to drop off people from 6pm onwards at night, hooting every time they arrive. The taxis also try negotiate the small area of road in front of the blocks of flats and have damaged our gates on occasion. Surely this kind of business can’t be run in a residential area?”

Speaking to Berea Mail, the owner of the building said he had followed the correct route to ensure the building was zoned for residential and hostel accommodation, and confirmed that he was in possession of the correct business licence. He said the building was not used every day for accommodation, but that two to three days a week it was used to accommodate students, school children and church groups.

“I have taken many calls from residents and have spoken to guards on site. This is a properly run business and I have tried to accommodate residents’complaints. At first buses were used to transport people, however after speaking to residents, we changed this to taxis or mini buses. I am now aware of the noise issue and will address this,” he said.

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