Western Area Rural District Council Chairman Kasho Holland-Cole has called for access to suitable land to address the persistent roadside trading and congestion in Waterloo. He argued that councils cannot effectively address the problem without sufficient land to establish market facilities and relocate traders from major roads. This statement comes as the council seeks to find a lasting solution to the issue.
The council is considering a 60-acre site near Waterloo that could accommodate a larger market. This proposed space would allow the council to provide traders with designated facilities instead of leaving them to operate along the highway. The chairman emphasized that the objective is to move traders away from the road rather than create another commercial development concentrated around large stores.
Holland-Cole outlined the council's approach to financing and completing market projects. The council could use funds generated through market fees to support some works, while larger projects would go through formal procurement procedures. Designs would be prepared before projects are advertised and submitted through the required procurement process, with contractors selected after the necessary approvals.
Despite previous market construction, the challenge of roadside trading has persisted. A 2025 report noted that a newly constructed market in Waterloo was insufficient to accommodate the large number of petty traders operating in the area. However, the report's estimate of the trader population was not independently verified. The council has already constructed market facilities, but available spaces have not eliminated roadside trading.
Holland-Cole linked the market challenge to a broader call for stronger local government capacity. He argued that councils should have greater access to land and resources so they can respond directly to local infrastructure and service-delivery needs. This, he believes, would enable councils to leave a lasting legacy for communities.
The chairman has served as chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council, having been certified as the winner of the 2023 chairperson election in the district with 157,164 votes, or 52.51% of valid votes cast. He resumed his duties in May following the return of All People's Congress elected officials to local governance.
Holland-Cole's proposal places the availability of land and the capacity of local councils at the centre of efforts to address Waterloo's long-running roadside trading problem. His interest in local government is ultimately tied to what councils can leave behind for communities, describing development projects and service delivery as part of a broader question of institutional legacy.
Key points
- Access to suitable land is crucial to resolving roadside trading in Waterloo.
- The council is considering a 60-acre site near Waterloo for a larger market.
- Stronger local government capacity is needed to address infrastructure and service-delivery needs.
