They expressed fears that the heaps of garbage and old buildings behind the workshops might become a real threat to the health of residents and the environment.
“The difficulties we face stem from the narrowness of the street, the large number of cars waiting to be repaired and the ditches which damage the cars,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Shihri, a Saudi resident.
He said reaching Al-Iskan Street in the heart of Jeddah takes a lot of time, effort and focus. He said the numerous bumps along the street might damage the cars that have only just been repaired at the workshops.
Ali Majrashi, another resident, said in order to reach any workshop customers will have to pass through heaps of damaged cars, large quantities of garbage and a large number of foreign workers looking for possible employers.
“The area has become a haven for illegal foreigners who look for possible clients to give them jobs,” he said.
Ali Barri said life in the district has become a real nuisance because of the workshops and foreigners looking for daily jobs.
“The district itself is over populated. It does not need more residents. It is already full of workshops, damaged cars and garbage,” he said.
Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Nihari of the Jeddah municipality said all workshops inside the city would be shifted to the Asfan district. “We are facing a problem concerning the land deed in that area. Once this problem is solved, all the workshops inside Jeddah will be moved to Asfan,” he said.
Al-Nihari said the initiative would soon be implemented once the land deed was secured.
