The City of Kigali authorities have issued a warning to the proprietor of Kigali’ popular Bristol Bar and Restaurant for lack of parking space and noise pollution affecting local residents. In a letter dated October 8, 2012 addressed to Serge Nsanawe Ndekwe, the owner of the popular hang-out, Papyrus Restaurant and copied to the Minister of Local Government and the Mayor Gasabo District, City Mayor, Fidele Ndayisaba pointed out limited parking, noise generated by the clientele and loud music as the key issues that need urgent attention. According to the letter, privacy of the neighbours is also affected since the clientele on the upper floor have direct visibility to neighbouring properties. According to the letter the underground discotheque at the facility should be closed with immediate effect. In a telephone interview with The New Times, the city Director of Media and Communication, Bruno Rangira, said they had the obligation to advise any business or institutions on any issue or complaints from the neighbourhood they operate from. “It is very important that every activity they engage in should not affect the neighbourhood” “Given that we have got complaints from the different residents neighbouring Papyrus, we had to inform them so that they can address them”“For instance the clientele of Papyrus park in the road thus affecting the movement of neighbours” “The other issue is having a disco/nightclub in the facility yet initially it was not listed among the activities that were approved. So we advised them to use the facility as the approved” He explained that the serenity of the neighbourhood is always a key point to consider when operating a business like that.Last year in September, the same business, while situated in a different location, was forced to close due to its inadequate parking inconveniencing residents and intolerable noise levels. When contacted. the proprietor of Papyrus Restaurant, said he had to relocaten due to the same issues. “I lost a lot of money when they closed my business last year. It’s surprising how the new place which they approved has the same problems,” he said.“I was told to leave due to parking space and intolerable noise levels, after three months of reopening they are telling me of the same issues”. He revealed he had to get a loan and sell his house and other property to come up with Rwf 440m to re-open Papyrus again. “I have invested a lot in the business and the claims that there is a night club are not true. It’s a bar and not a disco like it’s stated in the letter. I had to install sound proof material since one can’t get clients in a bar without music. About the noise made by the clientele, I can’t stop people from talking, but I can only control the music which is something I did,” Ndekwe reveals.
