A Parkwood Estate liquor tavern’s uncomfortably close proximity to local religious and educational institutions, recreational facilities and local organisations has angered residents.
The Boys Inn tavern in Blackbird Avenue is less than 300m from a primary school’s main entrance, a church, a park, a mosque and an after-school feeding facility for children.
The play park could not be used fully as its main entrance was opposite the inn, exposing children and the community to unwanted elements patronising the inn, said Voice of Parkwood (VOP) community organisation chairperson Reverend Paul Phillips.
He added that some patrons sat and drank and relieved themselves in the park, and conducted illegal activities associated with alcohol intake and abuse.
He said the inn’s presence was also spawning illegal shebeens in the area’s council-rented stock, which it allegedly supplied with liquor, creating “dysfunctional social cohesion” and nullifying the City’s intention to develop a local community park.
To make matters worse, there was another liquor trader with a Sunday trading licence 300m down the road, said Phillips. “The situation has become unbearable for community members in the surrounds, it puts schoolchildren at risk, does not contribute in any way to the development of the community, but rather contribute towards alcohol abuse.”
He said the VOP had conveyed these and other concerns to the Western Cape Liquor Authority, offices of the premier and mayor, Safety and Security MEC Dan Plato, the Ward 66 councillor and the subcouncil 18.
Other complaints were that the road was illegally closed during liquor deliveries in which a forklift packed crates of liquor in the road, and when residents complained, they were threatened and verbally abused, said Phillips.
“It is unacceptable when community members, schools and crèches cannot access and utilise a public facility for which there is no alternative.‘‘We request the relevant officials meet with community roleplayers urgently.”