Gatesville CBD: Proposed plan to reduce congestion and promote social distancing open for comment
02 March 2021
As of yesterday, Monday, 1 March 2021 until Tuesday, 30 March 2021, the public will be able to submit their comments on the proposed plan to reduce congestion and promote social distancing in Gatesville CBD.
A short-term intervention to reduce congestion and promote social distancing is being explored for the Gatesville informal trading area to assist businesses, traders and customers to adhere to Covid-19 protocols while informal trading continues in the Gatesville CBD.
Several consultation meetings with internal departments and external stakeholders were held to explore various options.
The proposed plan is as follows:
- A road restriction and the relocation of 24 traders into one service road westbound of Old Klipfontein Road between Hazel and Doreen Roads was deemed the preferred option because it would have the most impact without a major disruption to users.
- The 24 traders would then be moved into the closed lane with signage and barriers placed to enable social distancing between the traders, customers, people on the pavement and the public in that area.
- The proposed temporary relocation will only happen from Friday to Saturdays from 06:00 to 18:00.
- This plan will be piloted over six months and during this time, the City will review the plan to ensure its efficacy.
‘Gatesville is a popular economic hub for both formal and informal trading businesses, which usually attracts many people, leading to congestion in the area, especially over weekends.
‘Based on this, the City’s Urban Management Directorate started engaging with stakeholders last year, including businesses and informal traders, as well as internal departments, to discuss a proposed proactive short-term intervention to reduce congestion and promote social distancing in the Gatesville CBD so trading can continue safely, while adhering to Covid-19 protocols. In addition to this proposal, the City has also distributed toolkits to all the informal traders and actioned awareness campaigns.
‘We encourage the public to please submit their comments on the proposed plan by Tuesday, 30 March,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management, Alderman Grant Twigg.
The proposal is available for viewing on the City’s website: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay and every Tuesday at the Subcouncil 17 offices: Athlone Civic Centre, corner of Protea and Klipfontein Road, Athlone from Monday 1 to Tuesday, 30 March 2021.
Comments, inputs or recommendations can be submitted by:
The City of Cape Town’s Public Participation Unit will assist people who cannot read and write, people living with a disability and people from disadvantaged groups who are unable to submit written comments.
For more information on the proposed plan or for assistance from the City’s Public Participation Unit, contact Zandile Mahlasela on 021 400 5501 or Zandile.mahlasela@capetown.gov.za or call 021 400 3131 (option 6).
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
