Keep off roads!

By Mohammed al a'ali
GARAGES in Manama are being threatened with closure if they continue to use public property to repair cars without permission.
It follows complaints by residents in the capital, who say noisy mechanics are taking over streets and blocking access to their homes.
The issue was raised at the Manama Municipal Council after several complaints about one garage in particular, which is located in a residential neighbourhood.
It has since been shut down after investigations revealed that it had committed numerous violations.
Manama Municipal Council technical committee chairman Sadiq Rahma has pledged an end to the "nuisance" and warned that garages that do not respect the rules would no longer be tolerated.
"Garages are not permitted to work outside, except if they have permission from the Manama Municipality to do so," he said.
"This permission is not given to everyone as the location of the garage is taken into consideration, whether it is in an area classified as residential or for service-related activities.
"If located in a residential area then the narrowness of the street is taken into account, with those in tight places not being given permission to operate outside their garages."
Residents in the area are consulted before permission is given to garages to operate on public property because they are most affected by the noise.
"People should take into consideration that there are many garages who work outside without permission from the municipality," added Mr Rahma.
"They should be reported and if they are found working without any permission, they will be closed down immediately without any delay."
Meanwhile, Mr Rahma said there had been cases of rogue garages opening in residential areas without permission.
"Councillors still don't know how these garages, especially the violating garage, were allowed to open in residential areas, which is a clear violation of the classification prepared by the council," he said.
"This is a different issue the council is going to investigate, but at the moment garages with violations will not be tolerated."
There have been similar complaints about garages from residents in the Northern Governorate.
One reader contacted the GDN to complain of garages operating in an area classed as residential, not commercial.
They said they have been complaining for the past 15 years about the garages in Block 531, but without success.
"Officials have been contacted repeatedly over the past 15 years now and nothing has been done despite repeated accidents, near-miss casualties and the deterioration of the area due to the car rubbish and waste that gets literally dumped in the surrounding area," said the reader, who asked to remain anonymous.
"It is deplorable and illegal and nothing is ever done.
"It's time to start taking care of enforcing the laws."