Month reprieve for Athlone driving schools

CAPETIMES 

2016-06-03

By: Siyavuya Mzantsi

Cape Town - The driving school operators facing a ban from running their businesses at the Athlone Stadium parking area have been given a one-month reprieve.

This comes after a group of frustrated driving operators met City of Cape Town officials and Athlone Stadium management to discuss the reasons behind the ban. An agreement was reached to extend their operations, and allow business owners time to formalise themselves and establish a representative body.

The City had announced in April that driving schools would no longer utilise the parking area from June 1.

This was because there had been numerous incidences in which private property was dammed through accidents in the vicinity of the stadium, along with damage to the facility’s fencing and gates, according to Athlone ward councillor Suzette Little.

Driving schools were asked to use the busy Klipfontein Road for driving lessons as an alternative.

Driving instructor Lloyd Castle said the body will engage the stadium management to establish a formal agreement. “Trucks are a huge issue. Conditions have been specified to even allow trucks to stay until we formalise ourselves and it is in the interest of truck owners to be aware of those conditions,” said Castle.

Officials were adamant that no trucks would be allowed in this area at all, but later agreed to a concession until July 1.

“A memorandum of agreement can then be signed to take us forward and engage the City on the lease and/or management of the parking areas.

“It has been agreed that there needs to be a follow up meeting before 1 July. So for now we operate.”

Little had said residents were extremely concerned about safety in general, more especially the safety of their children.

The trucks were causing weight-bearing problems to the surface of the stadium’s parking area.

However, Little could not provide the number of complaints received from residents.

She said the fencing would be erected from July 2016.

“There will be a further meeting with the management structure to discuss tariffs, public liability, etc,” she said.

Cape Times