GEORGE NEWS - Wooden posts that George Municipality recently planted on sidewalks in front of businesses in Fabriek Street (near the top end of Clay Street) have the owners up in arms because their clients now have nowhere else to park.

There are yellow lines in the street, so parking there is illegal. 

Traffic officers have already issued fines for parking; however, these were withdrawn, according to Anton Meyer of Gallie Sweis. 

On the same day, Thursday 1 August, the police were also present to investigate a situation where someone had sawn off a number of the posts on the western sidewalk.

Danie Roux, co-owner of Laundry Express, said the situation is negatively affecting business.

"For more than 20 years, customers of businesses in our street have been using the pavements to park; now suddenly it is a problem. People do it in all the areas surrounding us."

The business owners who spoke to the newspaper are upset that they were not given prior notice. 

"It would have been more sensible if the municipality had informed us beforehand and given us an opportunity to provide our input. Laundry Express has in the past proposed to, at our own cost, create a few parking spaces on the pavement in front of our business, but we have never received any feedback from the municipality," said Roux.

Gallie Meyer of Gallie Sweis said instead of spending time and money on planting posts, the municipality could have used some of the pavement space to create parking. 

"The pavement on the side of Laundry Express where the pedestrian walk was also paved recently, is wide enough for the path and parking bays."

Meyer's son Anton says the Health and Safety Act prohibits public parking in a factory area, so their customers are not allowed to park on their premises. 

"A customer's vehicle parked in the street was hit by a passing vehicle and the side mirror broke off. Another client's car door was dented against a post."

Next Level Custom Auto Craft owner Burt Geyser says the two posts on the right are standing on private property. Civil Engineering Services wants proof before they remove them.

The sidewalk in front of Next Level Custom Auto Craft is cemented and has served as parking for decades. Owner Burt Geyser said there was parking for six vehicles; now there are two. "Two of the posts are actually also standing on our property."

He said the contractor removed them, but later returned to put them back, saying that Geyser had to take up the matter with the municipality.

Ilse Martin of Enduro, which is on the same premises as Laundry Express and Pie Factory, said they all share one entrance and a small delivery area on the premises used by large trucks, couriers and clients, so parking space is not always available.

The business owners think the municipality could have handled the situation in a more considerate way. They have started a petition against the posts.

After some of the posts were sawn off (on the left), the municipality placed concrete barriers on this pavement. 

'Municipality acting within scope of Road Traffic Act'

Responding to business owners' discontent about the posts, municipal communications head Chantèl Edwards said no loading, off-loading or parking is allowed on the roadway and sidewalks as this causes damage to municipal infrastructure, forces pedestrians to walk in the road and impedes sight distance, which endangers road users.

"Parking within the premises of the businesses is a requirement in terms of the approval granted for the various site development plans. 

"Where businesses have expanded beyond the capacity of their premises/properties, it remains the business owner's responsibility to address and adhere to the relevant site approvals and to obtain the necessary approvals for any deviations thereto.

"All illegal activities in terms of the By-law Relating to Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places (8795 of July 2023) will be addressed to ensure compliance with the approved site development plans.

"Where approval for parking in the road reserve has been granted, the municipality will engage with the relevant business owner regarding alternative arrangements. However, note where no approval is in place for parking on the road reserve, no consultation is required."

The municipality says parking in the street cannot be allowed as it obstructs the view of motorists using the various entrances to premises.

Edwards said the civil engineering services department requires proof of the allegation of wooden posts planted on private property and if it is the case, they will remove the posts and reinstate the area. No criminal charge has been registered yet for the vandalism of wooden posts.

"The municipality is acting within the scope of the Road Traffic Act and will continue to take action against persons not adhering to the legislation."

Responding to a complaint that the road is wider than nine metres and should therefore not have yellow lines, she said the lines were painted to prevent parking because that would obstruct motorists' views when exiting the various premises.

"The width of the road and presence of the yellow lines are not related and have no bearing on the fines. The fines were not handed over to the vehicle owners at the time, as SAPS was present and dealing with the matter." 

After some of the posts were sawn off (on the left), the municipality placed concrete barriers on this pavement. Photos: Alida de Beer

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