Sad that artisans must move from their Walmer site

IMAGINE my sadness when I learnt that the group of artisans outside Builders Express in Walmer have been told to move from the verge where they sell their produce.

I know all nine artisans who create and sell a variety of goods ranging from furniture and garden screens to souvenirs and carvings.

They are honest, hard-working people who have been situated on the corner of Main Road and Eighth Avenue for many years, some for more than 10 years! Why have they now been asked to leave without any alternative as to where they can carry on their work?

I believe it was said they interfered with the traffic, but as they do not walk through the cars hawking, I cannot really see how this is the reason.

Would the municipality reconsider and perhaps allow them to sell their goods on the opposite side of the road using the Town Hall garden?

I am sure they will clean up every evening on leaving, as they normally do.

Or can any other spare ground be considered as they provide a service which many of us will miss?

How will these people continue to provide for their families when they are not allowed to make a decent living? Do we really need more unemployment in the metro?

I am sure the authorities have more pressing things to deal with, such as criminals, gangs and worse.

In my mind, they should focus their efforts on ridding the metro of these rather than the artisans who provide a good service for both local residents and visitors/tourists to the region.

Local artist, Walmer, Port Elizabeth