Business operating at one of East London’s oldest shopping centres – the Oriental Plaza in North End – say they are being neglected despite paying rates.
The plaza, which has close to 70 tenants, was established around 40 years ago as a business hub for Indian traders.
Business owners, who have been trading since the hub’s beginnings, told Saturday Dispatch they had witnessed how the plaza had deteriorated over the years.
Traders are complaining about the state of roads around the plaza, illegal dumping in and around it, taxis and mechanics operating illegally inside the plaza and electrical mains boxes that were being vandalised.
Ashween Parbhoo, who runs one of the first businesses set up at the plaza – Bengal’s General Traders – said they had tried many times to get Buffalo City Metro (BCM) to address their concerns, but to no avail.
“We have called law enforcement, we have called the traffic department and solid waste to come and address the violation of bylaws at the plaza, but none of these departments have assisted us.”
Parbhoo showed the Dispatch photographs of the once-pristine plaza in the 1980s. Even the plaque that was unveiled when the centre opened, has been stolen.
Ginno Vassan, who owns a hairdressing business at the plaza, said they had reached a point where they were considering withholding payments for rates and using the money to fix the plaza.
“The bad state of this place is costing us our clients and customers. No one wants to come here anymore,” Vassan said.
Mukesh Vallabh, from Bilimoria Supermarket, said customers had complained about the potholes.
“This is bad for business. We are losing some of our loyal customers and cannot attract new customers because the bad state of this place does not attract customers.”
BCM ward councillor in the area, Patricia Williams, said the traders’ concerns were brought to the city council’s attention five years ago, with no result.
“BCM always has excuses such as there is no bitumen to tar the road,” Williams said.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said: “The lids of electrical boxes have been replaced several times but are repeatedly vandalised. Some of the boxes belong to the building owner who refuses to replace the doors. We do it at our cost.”
Oriental Plaza traders cry foul: say they are being neglected despite paying rates
The plaza, which has close to 70 tenants, was established around 40 years ago as a business hub for Indian traders.
Business owners, who have been trading since the hub’s beginnings, told Saturday Dispatch they had witnessed how the plaza had deteriorated over the years.
Traders are complaining about the state of roads around the plaza, illegal dumping in and around it, taxis and mechanics operating illegally inside the plaza and electrical mains boxes that were being vandalised.
Ashween Parbhoo, who runs one of the first businesses set up at the plaza – Bengal’s General Traders – said they had tried many times to get Buffalo City Metro (BCM) to address their concerns, but to no avail.
“We have called law enforcement, we have called the traffic department and solid waste to come and address the violation of bylaws at the plaza, but none of these departments have assisted us.”
Parbhoo showed the Dispatch photographs of the once-pristine plaza in the 1980s. Even the plaque that was unveiled when the centre opened, has been stolen.
Ginno Vassan, who owns a hairdressing business at the plaza, said they had reached a point where they were considering withholding payments for rates and using the money to fix the plaza.
“The bad state of this place is costing us our clients and customers. No one wants to come here anymore,” Vassan said.
Mukesh Vallabh, from Bilimoria Supermarket, said customers had complained about the potholes.
“This is bad for business. We are losing some of our loyal customers and cannot attract new customers because the bad state of this place does not attract customers.”
BCM ward councillor in the area, Patricia Williams, said the traders’ concerns were brought to the city council’s attention five years ago, with no result.
“BCM always has excuses such as there is no bitumen to tar the road,” Williams said.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said: “The lids of electrical boxes have been replaced several times but are repeatedly vandalised. Some of the boxes belong to the building owner who refuses to replace the doors. We do it at our cost.”
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