Have your say on mobile business areas

The public have until Wednesday October 16 to comment on trading sites the City is proposing for mobile businesses.

The sites span the metro, but in the southern suburbs, they include Outeniquaberg Road at Newlands Forest; Lions Gate, Canals Gate and Dennedal Gate at Lower Tokai Park; Le Sueur Avenue and Alphen Drive at the Alphen Trail Greenbelt; the parking area of the Tokai library; Main Road, the corner of Princess Vlei Road and De Waal Road in Diep River.

The City says it is responding to an increased demand for mobile business operations, and its draft mobile business policy will grant mobile trading areas uninterrupted trading for up to five hours a day with proposed trading hours from 7am to 6pm in winter and 7am to 7.30pm in summer.

Mobile traders will need to provide portable bins for customers. They won’t be allowed to use generators, they must park only hardened surfaces and will not have any exclusive right to spots on public property.

Nicky Schmidt, the founder of non-profit environmental organisation Parkscape, said supporting informal traders in “a managed way” had socio-economic benefits, but food trucks could pose a problem in baboon areas.

“Both food and waste, even if waste is managed, are attractants to baboons. Equally, baboon presence at food trucks pose risks to traders and customers.”

Lion’s Gate and Canal Gate had limited parking, so trading might not be practical there, she said, adding that any trading area could restrict existing parking and cause more congestion.

“The small corner site at Ribbon Gate poses concerns about traffic at the intersection. Parking is already congested at peak times, so trading might create further congestion, which would impact residents and park users.

“However, a trader at this site could potentially provide increased security in the area. There is an existing informal trader on this site (selling dog beds and related items), and people seem to enjoy his presence, which is unintrusive and doesn't appear to create any bother for users or residents.”

Trading on the Alphen Trail would threaten the natural character of that greenbelt, said Friends of Constantia Valley Greenbelt committee member Laurian Sachs.

“The Constantia greenbelts are meant for environmental conservation and recreation, making commercial activities incompatible with their purpose. These areas were never intended for business, and the necessary infrastructure is lacking.

“The Alphen Trail is already showing signs of overuse, and trading would increase foot traffic. As densification encroaches on outdoor spaces, public areas like the Alphen Trail are crucial for Capetonians to enjoy nature, not provide another outlet for shopping.”

In a Constantia Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association survey, the 60 to 70 respondents were four-to-one against mobile businesses on the Alphen Greenbelt, said the association’s chairman, Chairman John McPetrie.

“The CRRA is not in favour, of course. Space will have to be made to accommodate these areas, which will mean additional costs, but, worse, litter will become more of a problem because it's difficult to motivate transient sales folk to ensure their debris is not offensive, and enforcement is always an issue. The citizenry haven't asked for this and most don't want it. We've got a coffee vendor on Le Sueur Avenue opposite the Meadow already and that's as far as it needs to go.”

Comments can be made on the City’s website or hand delivered to your local sub-council office. For assistance from the public participation unit, contact Sadia Nanabhay at 021 41 7 4139 or Sadia.Nanabhay@capetown.gov.za.