Lesego Maja
lesegomaja@caxton.co.za
Paid parking could be introduced in suburbs crowded by public parking.
This is one of the suggestions brought forward at an engagement meeting by the City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor Parks Tau and his committee on 29 October.
Mayor Tau engaged with various stakeholders made up of business people, residents of Parkhurst, Greenside, Parkview, Melville, Mayfair, and other areas, to brief them on the nodes that are affected by public parking – and the city's plans.
“An unmanaged urban environment can have a negative impact on businesses and residents,” Tau said, in reference to Melville specifically.
“We can’t shy away from the responsibility to manage an urban area.”
While he acknowledged that those who attended the meeting probably expected to hear a big announcement regarding a definite solution, Tau mentioned it was not that simple.
“It is one thing to say we have removed public parking and have listened to the people, but it is another thing to say we have found a solution.”
Business owners expressed their concerns that paid parking could possibly drive out customers from their areas.
Tau said the mayoral committee was committed to finding a solution that is flexible and beneficial to all stakeholders.
Suggestions were made that parking charges should only be given to those who park for more than an hour; that residents should be given car stickers that would exempt them from paying for parking; and that businesses should formulate a system that discounts their customers' parking payments.
The Mayor also reminded those in attendance that the purpose of the meeting was to solicit propositions from them and to work together to implement a solution that works.
“The reason we are here is to say we have applied our minds to the concerns that you have raised, these are the options that we are putting on the table, give us feedback,” Tau concluded.
Paid parking has already been implemented in Braamfontein and it seems to be a success so far, in the opinion of the mayoral committee.
Details: Jaqueline Baloyi 011-407-7421, www.joburg.org.za.
