JEDDAH — Traders in north Jeddah's Briman junkyard are protesting against the municipality's plan to close it down without making prior arrangements to shift their shops to a suitable location with necessary infrastructure. The traders said the new site identified by the municipality Abujaala is located about 70 kilometers south of the present market and lacked essential facilities, including asphalted roads. They proposed a site near the new industrial city in Asfan. Faiz Al-Amri, owner of a scrap shop in Briman, said municipal officials have pasted stickers on their shops warning them that the shops would be closed down shortly. "We were surprised by the municipality's action as their petition is still being considered by the Court of Grievances and the court has instructed the municipality to stop its plan to shift the market to Abujaala," Al-Amri told Al-Madinah newspaper. He said a court representative visited the new site in Abujaala and agreed that it was unsuitable. "We are not against shifting but the market should be moved to a suitable place with easy access to customers," he added. "We expect either the municipality construct proper roads to Abujaala or shift the market to a better place near the new industrial city in Asfan," Al-Amri said. Fahd Al-Motairy, another trader, said the municipality has not given a specific date to vacate the place. "We have got a court verdict stopping the municipality's move to shift the market," he pointed out. "The court will look into the issue again next month. We have full confidence in the judiciary. The municipality's previous move to shift the market has affected our business and we have demanded compensation for that." According to Al-Motairy, the new site proposed by the municipality is far from the present market and it would be difficult for customers to reach there. He also supported the proposal to shift the market to state-owned land in Asfan. Al-Madinah newspaper visited Abujaala to verify the claims made by the traders. It found that roads to the location is poorly constructed and not suitable for heavy traffic movement. About 7 kilometers of the road to the proposed site is not asphalted. Abdul Rahman Al-Harbi, a resident of Abujaala, said the place is not suitable for the scrap market. "The area was previously used to keep sheep and there are no services. It will be difficult for small vehicles to travel along the muddy road." A member of the Jeddah Municipal Council, who requested anonymity, said the traders wanted the municipality to stop the shifting of the Briman market until a suitable location was readied. "We have written to Jeddah Mayor Dr. Hani Aburas for his opinion on the issue," the member said, adding that he was looking forward to a solution acceptable to the traders. Al-Madinah contacted the municipality for its comment on the issue, but none of the officials responded. In a previous statement, Mohammed Al-Baqami, spokesman for the municipality, said his organization decided to shift the junkyard to Abujaala on the directive of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal Bin Majed. A committee comprising representatives from the municipality, the governorate, Civil Defense and Jeddah Police was set up for the purpose. "The shifting was planned in public interest," Al-Baqami said.
