Union St closure: muni economical with the truth
John Metelerkamp, Knysna:
Your article (“Roadworks leave Knysna in the dark”, 29/09/2019 ) on the Union Street fiasco contains inaccurate information.
The spokesman for Knysna Municipality, Mr Bezuidenhout, intimated that I was lying by stating that no construction work was carried out in Union Street between Queen and Long streets from 14 December 2018 until 16 August 2019!
He, in fact, is totally economical with the truth in his reply and obviously ignorant of the situation in this street a mere 300 odd meters from his office! I have forwarded KPH my letter to him indicating his ignorance, along with attached photographs and video clearly indicating that absolutely nothing was done on this street during the period mentioned.
Bezuidenhout also states that access was maintained to our business throughout the period. This is laughable. Union Street was totally closed for October, November and half of December 2018 and has been closed from the middle of August 2019 until today (14 October). I doubt the road will be opened as promised by the end of this month.
This entire contract has hopelessly overrun (334 days to 14 October) due to incompetence and inefficiency by the municipality (client) and the main contractor H T Pelatona Projects (Pty) Ltd.
Metelerkamps and other businesses have been severely affected financially by the intermittent shutdown and disruption of Union Street during this period.
Customers are avoiding this part of town due to the disruptions and poor road surfaces. It is difficult to find parking for them resulting in the customer driving away or not visiting our businesses. The closure of Union Street eliminated well over 20 parking bays.
This has been a very frustrating and trying time for all concerned with little or no cooperation or urgency on the part of Knysna Municipality or the main contractor. Knysna Municipality responds:
Director of infrastructure services Pravir Hariparsad said the municipality stands by its prior comments and have no further comment on this matter.