MOSSELBAY NEWS - After a public outcry on facebook and several websites, even that of one of South Africa's most-read magazines, regarding high parking tariffs, the ATKV Hartenbos lowered its tariffs this week.
Karen Phipson, the head of marketing for the resort, said: "The tariffs have now been adjusted. We want to welcome everyone to the resort. We don't want to chase them away."
Prior to parking tariffs being lowered people fumed that their average two- to three-hour outing to the shops would cost them R75 for parking and they had to pay the ridiculous fee of R750 should they lose their parking ticket.
Now, with the adjusted fees, until 7 January, from 07:00 until 19:00, 0 to 30 minutes will be free; 30 to 60 minutes will be R5; and one to two hours R10; two to three hours' parking costs R25; and three to four hours R50. Four to five hours costs R100.
R25 for two to three hours is a far more palatable cost than R75. If you lose your parking ticket you will have to pay R200, rather than R750.
Explaining the reason behind the tariffs, Phipson says: "We don't want people to park and go to the beach. There is other parking for the beachgoers. We want people to support the businesses."
There are separate evening tariffs which are not too expensive.
Also, with the newly adjusted tariffs, parking illegally will lead to a R200 penalty as opposed to the R1 000 fee previously.
The tariffs apply to the December holidays and Easter weekend. Tariffs for the rest of the year will be less.
Pick n Pay and Wellness World clients get their first hour and a half of parking free of charge.
With regards to the Fun Park tariffs, Phipson noted: "People must remember we are the only ATKV resort that is within a town. It is not enclosed like the other six resorts. At the other six resorts the amenities can only be used by people holidaying at the resort. No day trippers are allowed. This is the reason we charge an entrance fee to the Fun Park."
The fee for the whole day is R25 for ATKV members. The park opens at 08:30 and closes at 23:00. It is R30 for non-members. If one is actually staying at the ATKV resort it is R20. For these fees one has access to the swimming pool, sun deck area, jungle gym and the holiday programme being presented from 13:00 to 16:00.
Speaking about the charges, Phipson said: "We want to keep the bad elements out - we don't want drunkenness or substance abuse."
When approached for comment, Mossel Bay municipal manager Advocate Thys Giliomee said: "That is private property. It is not within our domain to comment. It is not a municipal parking area."
Prior to the development there was some criticism from the public that the municipality had allowed the development to go ahead. Members of the public complained that sections of public roads had to be closed for the development.
In comparison to the Hartenbos Seefront, there are no parking fees for those wishing to use the Waterfront Knysna Quays shopping mall. It is absolutely free.
Also the V&A Waterfront parking fees are less expensive than even the lowered Hartenbos Seefront tariffs. One would expect the V&A fees to be higher because Cape Town attracts many foreign tourists - more so than Hartenbos.
Marcia Holm, Mossel Bay Tourism chief operations officer, said: "I am glad the parking tariffs have been reduced.
We don't want to chase people away from Mossel Bay." Holm mentioned seeing a facebook post, prior to the lowering of the tariffs, in which someone said they would rather go to Still Bay than Hartenbos because of the high cost of parking.
Despite lowering their parking tariffs it seems the Hartenbos Seefront still charges more on average than other waterfront developments in the Western Cape.
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ARTICLE: LINDA SPARG, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER SUB EDITOR
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