Parkhusrt parking protests

Bring your ideas about the pay for parking system, we are listening, the City tells business owners and residents protesting against the roll-out.
PEOPLE in Parkhurst have been urged by the City to use the proper channels to express their feelings about the rollout of the paid parking system in the trendy northern Joburg suburb.

This comes after several shop owners and residents protested against the system yesterday. They set up camps in parking spots along the main road, Fourth Avenue, and called on the City to reconsider the system and hold more public consultations.

The City’s spokesperson, Gabu Tugwana, said Joburg had started preparations to conduct further engagement with concerned residents through municipal structures, which included ward councillors and the petition committee in the Office of the Speaker.

“This principle was publicly pronounced last week when the City committed to create space for the communities who wish to give further input on this programme,” said Tugwana.

The legal framework of the pay for parking system was met before it was set up and as the programme was being rolled out in various areas, Tugwana said, adding that the City would continue taking into account additional public comments that could help make the new system work better for all concerned.

Parkhurst and Johannesburg CBD already have the system, and parking tariffs have been set at R8 for hour and R4 for 30 minutes. It will be rolled out in Rosebank, Roodepoort, Melville, Florida, Emmarentia, Birnam, Norwood, Fordsburg, Greenside, Northcliff, Rivonia and Linden.

Public comment on the paid parking can be submitted to the Speaker’s Office on the ground floor of Metro Centre, 158 Civic Boulevard, in Braamfontein, opposite Joburg Theatre Complex.