The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in a press release yesterday, expressed concern about the attitude of some businesses that have appropriated alleyways and drains by blocking and covering them for their personal use.
The M&CC also reported that the mayor visited several sections of the city last week and observed that some building contractors have taken the liberty to cover drains and alleyways. This illegal action by builders and some businesses is likely to affect the council’s ability to clean these drains and thoroughfares posing environmental and other challenges for the council and city as a whole.
The release stated that according to the law, “No building or part thereof shall be erected over any thoroughfare except with the written permission of the council and then only upon such terms and conditions as the council may prescribe.”
These situations will have to be corrected to allow property-owners to comply with the city building by-laws and to create a sense of fairness to all other citizens particularly those affected, the release added.
It was further stated that the council’s city works and legal affairs committees will be discussing these issues later this month.
