KLEIN Sakeweek 2002 gaan van Maandag 18 November tot Vrydag 22 November in die Kaapstadse Burgersentrum gehou word met 'n nominale toegangsgeld van R30 per dag of R100 vir die week.

Opkomende en bestaande entrepreneurs wat Klein Sakeweek 2002 besoek, sal nuwe vaardighede kan leer, toegang kry tot sakebystandagentskappe en -instansies en groter insigte kry wat betref aangeleenthede wat betrokke is wanneer daar in die Wes-Kaap sake gedoen word.

Die doel is om toekomstige entrepreneurs alleenlik toegang tot belangrike opleiding oor sakevaardighede en 'n holistiese insig oor die klein sake-scenario te gee. Registreer by 421-6325.

THE bridges over the N1 between Cape Town and Rawsonville are being upgraded. This includes major work to reinforce the Agter Paarl bridge.

Many of the N1 bridges are approaching 40 years of age, having been constructed in the early sixties, and require urgent maintenance and rehabilitation.

Much of the damage has been caused by Alkali Silicate Reaction - a reaction between incompatible types of cement and stone used in the concrete and the presence of alternating cycles of moisture and dryness, according to a spokesman for the SA National Roads Agency, Nelis Brink.

Corrosion of the reinforcement, where the concrete cover to the steel reinforcement is inadequate and spalling of the concrete has resulted, is also a common problem.

At the Agter Paarl Bridge, constructed in 1968, steel plates will be glued and bolted to the soffit of the deck across the entire width of the deck after which the spans will be individually jacked up for the purpose of replacing the bridge bearings.

This work will be done whilst accommodating traffic on at least one lane, both on the N1 underneath and on top of the bridge.

The asphalt surfacing will then be removed from the riding surface of the deck and a concrete overlay followed by new asphalt surfacing will complete the works.

New expansion joints will be provided and the balustrades will be rehabilitated as well.

To minimise the disruption to the traffic, most of the work to be performed on top of this bridge will be done in half-width fashion, allowing traffic through in one direction at a time.

However the closing of the bridge for two periods each of five weeks will occur for certain operations. These closures will occur between January and May next year and alternative routes will be signposted.

The contract period is 13 months and completion is envisaged for July 2003.

THE Drakenstein Municipality has decided to extend the period for comment on the draft Paarl Farms Land Use Management Policy, in the light of the fact that they are still awaiting comments from the Provincial Authority Western Cape. The comment period will now end on 29 November. 

The consultants will present the draft policy to the Planning Committee of the Drakenstein Council on 4 December. 

The report will then be finalised taking the comments from interested and affected parties, PAWC and Council into account and then submitted to Council for final approval early next year. 

A full report on all comments received will accompany the final submission to Council.

Copies of the report can be obtained from Ashley Roelf at the Planning Department of the Drakenstein Municipality (3rd Floor, Civic Centre, Paarl) or alternatively the report can be viewed and downloaded from MCA's website (www.mcaplan.co.za). 

Comments can be forwarded to Roelf at the Drakenstein Municipality or Lize Malan or Cecil Madell at MCA Planners (mcaplan@gem.co.za) or fax 685-1210 .

* The Drakenstein Heritage Foundation (DHF) is aiming to have the entire Main Street of Paarl and its surrounding town farms declared a Provincial Heritage Site, and so place them under stringent controls provided in terms of the Heritage Resources Act.

The DHF will be seeking the support of the Drakenstein Municipality in this move which it is making out of concern that the town farms of Paarl should remain undisturbed.

Farm owners have sought to subdivide their land for redevelopment.

THE central business area of Paarl is like a shopping mall without a roof - all it needs is to be upgraded and made consumer friendly by developing its existing squares.

That is the opinion of Jannie Meyer, well-known retail architect who has been engaged by the Paarl Professional Association (a group of local consultants) to design an upgrade for Paarl's CBD.

"Currently Lady Grey Street looks like Brakpan gone mad - with the Grand Canyon running down the middle," says Meyer.

"We must bridge the Great Divide by developing sorely needed additional retail space on the south side of Lady Grey Street in the vicinity of Patriot Square - and link all the different squares with pedestrian walkways."

According to Meyer, central Paarl has grown organically with business grouped in the same way as in a shopping mall.

The town's "financial district" is located around Jan Phillips Square, with the "fashion district" centrally located at the junction of Lady Grey Street and Derksen Street. There is an "entertainment district" in Upper New Street and discount stores are located lower down in Lady Grey Street.

"We should capitalise on the existing precincts and expand them by adding a friendlier ambience, more trees and parking."

According to Meyer the first phase of upgrading should start with the addition of attractive facades to all the buildings in Lady Grey Street and surroundings, covering the current sidewalks verandah style.

Closure of Lady Grey Street between Fabriek Street and Verster Street would allow for resurfacing of the street as a pedestrian area, with tree planting, water furrows and street cafés - basically a shopping mall without a roof.

The cost of upgrading would be offset by the added leasable space gained on the ground and first floor level behind the new facades.

Every shopping mall has a central "fashion court" or amphitheatre. According to Meyer, for Paarl this could be situated on a redeveloped Patriot Square, with a fountain, bandstand and amphitheatre for promotions.

Leading off this central court, barren Upper New Street could become Paarl's new "Latin Quarter", by adding verandahs, arches and sidewalk cafés in the area already lending itself to entertainment.

Added parking could be obtained in the area west of Patriot Square where Gymnasium Primary's swimming pool is situated.

Another neglected square, Wamakers Square behind Pick 'n Pay, could be redeveloped with cobbling, trees and covered walkways, focusing on a wagon exhibition and wagon theme restaurant in the vicinity of the old fig tree, says Meyer.

He sees the redevelopment of central Paarl as a project to be tackled by the Paarl Partnership in collaboration with the municipal council, as has been done in Cape Town after thorough research on the revitalisation of decaying cities like New York.

"The success of such a city improvement project will depend on good management and planning by the Municipality, which must not simply enforce regulations and bylaws, but must act with vision to achieve a quality environment for shoppers and tourists.

"The community must also buy into the project and not follow a separate agenda.

"Once Phase 1 has been implemented, the upgrading will become a catalyst to the improvement of the lower end of Lady Grey Street and even further, to the bank of the Berg River which is a potential 'Waterfront' for Paarl.

"We must start small in the biggest possible way and plan strategically, as was done with the redevelopment of the Cape Town Waterfront. What we need by all is a vote of confidence in the Paarl CBD."

The members of the Paarl Professional Association are Jannie Meyer, Albertyn Viljoen, Johan Wessels (architects), Jan Hanekom Partners (planners), Broll Property Group, CP de Leeuw and Marius van Tonder (quantity surveyors), Africon and Lyners (engineers), David Hellig (land surveyor) and OVP (landscape architects).

For enquiries, contact Marius van Tonder on 083-458-3563.

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