Outrage over road closures
Businesses in the once-bustling Blue Lagoon area are feeling the pinch over ‘excessive’ policing
The management and tenants of Blue Lagoon Food Emporium are unhappy about the metro police blocking off the area at weekends as it is costing them thousands of rand in wastage and lost sales.
BLUE Lagoon’s revival after its four year hiatus has been shortlived – thanks to the metro police. Management and tenants of the newly revamped Blue Lagoon believe that the council’s decision to barricade and police the area on weekend evenings was “bad for business”.
Business owners said there were 12 metro police personnel and five security officers at the lagoon, something they described as “ridiculous”.
The owner of Blue Lagoon Conference Centre, David Reddy, said the situation had arisen in November.
He said the police supposedly manned the area to monitor alcohol and public disturbances.
“We understood that there needed to be additional enforcement during the festive season but having this matter continue in off-peak times is frustrating.
“We have written to the municipality on numerous occasions but we have not received any positive feedback.
“The beach commander, Captain Van Heerden wrote a letter to the eThekwini Transport Authority in January stating that the booms were not necessary, but we are still waiting for feedback,” he said.
The owner of Lugs Food Emporium, Sury Reddy, said the municipality had approved their business venture last year and the stalls where vendors traded had been turned into parking.
“It has been three years of hard work to renovate this place and restore it to its former glory.
“We started extremely well but this whole metro police issue has put a damper on everything. It seems like the municipality deliberately wants to keep us away.
“The number of guards manning the area does not add up. Surely there is no need to have 12 guards supervising one area and hired security at the same time.
“They can be deployed for other pertinent matters because Blue Lagoon is not known to be violent like other areas on the beachfront. Local and international guests are being restricted from a great destination,” she said.
Reddy also said the barricades caused congestion and traffic backed up on to the main road.
“It is intimidating for people to see a large contingency of police officers, and they immediately leave, thinking it to be a roadblock.
“Naturally we are losing out on customers who won’t come back because of the ongoing restrictions,” she added.
Tenants and restaurant owners are also feeling the pinch.
Danny Naidoo, who is known for his famous bunnies, said he was running at a loss and was behind on his rent.
He said in March last year “business was booming” but when the restrictions started the foot count reduced.
“Since the revamp there has been hundreds of jobs created but this downward spiral is having a drastic effect on our business. Four people have lost their jobs due to this crisis and if this is not solved soon then it could have implications for others,” he said.
Sharon Govender of Lugs Fish and Grill said the restrictions affected their business too, with fewer people visiting the area.
“Some clients have to preorder and we have to deliver outside the barricaded area because they can’t get in. The weekends are our prime time and lots of potential clients decide where to eat when they are here,” she said.
Abdul Motaled of Top Chef said he had not been let into the area three times because the police had required business documents from him.
“Which business owner carries their documents wherever they go? The police do not realise the consequences this is having on our business, especially with the large staff I have employed.”
“The only way for us to survive is for the council to reconsider their idea and to remove the barricade”.
Ethekwini Municipality is still to respond on the issue.
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