The City’s R1,7 million investment towards the upgrading of the informal trading area in the Hanover Park Central Business District will help to enhance and stimulate local economic activity. During a site inspection recently, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management Alderman Grant Twigg was impressed with the progress.
The refurbishment was a result of a meeting between the Hanover Park Informal Traders Association, Ward Councillor Alderman Antonio van der Rheede and Alderman Twigg in March last year where the traders highlighted the need for upgrades to the informal trading space in the Hanover Park CBD.
‘We are pleased to announce that Phase 1 of the upgrade should be completed by the end of February 2021. This includes the installation of kerbs as well as the levelling and tarring of the entire surface. Trading bays will also be demarcated and concrete numbering will be installed at each bay,’ said Alderman Twigg.
The upgrades were started in January 2021 with funding from the Mayoral Urban Regeneration Programme.
‘Our positive working relationship with the trader community and the support of the ward councillor allows informal trading to flourish. We want to create an improved public space for all users. The City is striving to create an enabling and supportive environment for informal traders to operate their businesses in a manner that ensures consistency, self-sustainability and a positive relationship with the formal sector and community,’ he said.
‘The City acknowledges the relevance and contribution of informal trading to our economic and social life as it provides an income to those who are unemployed. We will like to encourage the informal traders to continue to abide by the City’s by-laws and engage their ward councillor should they have any concerns so that we can assist where possible,’ said Alderman Twigg.