Enough is enough! Three weeks after weskusonTheline reported on the frustration and dispiritedness of business owners in “downtown” Langebaan about how badly road construction works affect their businesses (* article underneath), the bomb finally exploded.
Some 80 irate business owners on Wednesday evening vented their pent-up grievances at an emergency meeting with municipal delegates and SBM Mayor Marius Koen. In a crowded library hall, they set an ultimatum: We want FULL access to our businesses, transparency to know at all times what is going on and compensation for our losses!
The crisis meeting was called out of desperation after five businesses along Oostewal Street (mostly in Ward 6) indicated that they will have to close at the end of the month and another six can survive only until the end of next month. Some of the businesses say they suffered a 90% loss of income due to the protracted and poorly planned construction works that cut them off from the main traffic route. The design of the new Oostewal Street lanes was also roundly criticised for being too narrow.
Rocky and Judith Breytenbach, owners of Silhouette Marine & Motor Spares and Gypsy Mojo and Silhouette Slimming respectively, organised the crisis meeting after all attempts to negotiate with RJM Civils’ consulting engineer, David Beyers, failed. They say none of the shops’ landlords were interested in attending the meeting or offering any help, indicating that the road fiasco does not concern them. Beyers allegedly tried to boycott the meeting by prohibiting his workers from attending.
For three months shop owners have, in agony and despair, helplessly watched dust blow from heaps of sand as ditches have blocked access routes to their businesses. They say there would be periods when there would be no road construction workers in sight for days on end. Finally on Wednesday night the tough questions were asked: Who is responsible for the poorly executed contract arrangements and what is to be done about it?
The meeting was attended by the SBM’s acting Municipal Manager, Jacques Marais (in the absence of Louis Scheepers who is on compulsory paid leave), and Councillors Dries Venter, André Kruger, Jaco Kotze and Miriam Wilsnach. The only representative on the technical side was director of technical services Gerrit Smit, who indicated that he would need at least two weeks’ consulting time to consider the proposed changes to the road design plans.
Emotional business owners took turns describing how the detours affected their trading and how trucks and delivery vans could not access their shops. Many workers had to be laid off and shop owners have to use their savings and pension money to keep their shops afloat. Some speakers also asked why the “good ideas” and proposals that had been made by members of the public had not yet been implemented. A suggested road map to avoid detours and allow easy access to the shops in Ward 6, which was specifically designed by business man Moby Mobara, was handed out.
A passionate Judith said: “Nobody asked me whether I was prepared to go bankrupt in order for Langebaan to have a nice main road. We were never consulted about these plans and nobody ever cared how these road works affect our businesses.”
The Municipal delegation heard complaints about the “intolerable arrogance and rudeness” of Beyers when shop owners tried to negotiate with him. Some claimed to have been intimidated by construction workers.
Koen said he was saddened by the hardships. He drove on the detours going to work each day, but he had never realised the impact it had on local businesses. He said the Municipality could make recommendations to the construction company but was unable to force them to comply.
Kruger, who chaired the meeting, revealed that the SBM has already paid R2,4 million out of its own funds for a project manager to ensure that the double road will be completed by 2 December. Kruger said the business owners’ proposals for better safety and security measures, changes to the median strip and traffic islands, as well as signboards would be considered.
Some of the serious delays were caused by the inaccuracy of maps of underground water pipes and electrical cables and because the storm water master plan had to be integrated with the road construction works.
Regarding compensation for the loss of income, it was said that the Municipality cannot be held liable. Shop owners are still considering their options to claim compensation. They are also questioning the tender process that was followed.
A follow-up meeting was scheduled for 6 October, when the SBM will give feedback.
Also read: http://www.weskusontheline.co.za/2016/09/02/sakelui-aan-stiefkant-van-dorp-radeloos-oor-padwerk-frustrasies/
