Carry on Regardless: The Kerbside Paid Parking Scheme in Johannesburg
I was allowed to attend today's Press Briefing by the City of Johannesburg on the Kerbside Paid Parking Scheme. I would like to present to you my experiences and thoughts on the scheme I am as the ward councillor for Parkhurst, where the suburban roll out first started and in Rosebank where it is going next.
The scheme was officially re-launched in Parkhurst on 1 March 2012 after an initial outcry from business and residents temporarily halted it earlier in January. It has been running for 2 months in Parkhurst. To date, the majority of the requirements contained in the Service Level Agreement (#328 of 2009) have not been met. [details available on request].
Furthermore, the majority of the submissions to the city in January 2012 regarding the scheme by the Parkhurst residents and businesses were declined by the JMPD. These included discounted parking for traders and affected residents, extension of the scheme after hours and weekends, 15-30 minutes free parking for people to pop into shops for newspapers, medicine, milk, etc. [details available on request]. It again seems that the city is not really interested in addressing the community's concerns nor adapting the scheme to fit the specific needs of each suburb.
The bylaws relating to the scheme first appeared in 2009 and were promulgated in December 2010. The city correctly claims that this was in accordance with the regulatory requirements. However, I have not found any evidence in the official documents alluding to the roll out of the scheme into the suburbs. It was merely touted as a replacement for the then current parking meter bylaws in the city. Thus, I feel that the city has been dishonest and disingenuous in its public participation process. Affected communities MUST be given the chance to comment on something that will affect them.
In letters sent to the city in March and in May, I have called on the city to remove the parking scheme from Parkhurst as it has not been rolled out properly and doesn't suit the make-up of the suburb.
I have, however, brokered a meeting between Ace Parking and the Rosebank Management District as I think the scheme may well be of benefit to the Rosebank CBD. But, it still needs to be implemented properly. From my Parkhurst experience, I fear that his will not be done, and that, even in Rosebank, there will be resistance to the scheme and confusion in the streets.
The scheme needs to be removed from the control of the JMPD and moved to another more suitable Department Advisory Group. It needs to be controlled by a department or group that understands the complexity of the city and has the skills to mould the scheme to fit correctly in the specific environments. The heavy handed and bullying JMPD are NOT the correct implementers of the scheme.
Similarly, the 25% cut of the parking fee should be ring fenced and put back into the communities where the system operates. It should be used to upgrade the road surfaces, maintain the sidewalks, install proper signage and keep the road markings legible.
Statement issued by Cllr Tim Truluck, DA Ward Councillor, City of Johannesburg, Ward 117, May 9 2012
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