The iconic Feather Market Centre in Port Elizabeth is under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
A flood of comments is doing the rounds on social media following the Music at the Market festival which took place at the weekend.
Members of a Facebook page for people who grew up in the friendly city in the '60s, '70s and '80s are lamenting the general shoddiness of the Feather Market, from smelling carpets to a lack of lighting and sound, and an air conditioning system that isn't working.
General filth around the iconic building was also not well received.
Renowned conductor Richard Cock, who is originally from PE, conducted the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra at the show and told Algoa FM News it was sad to see the Feather Market in such a sad state of disrepair. "It's a fantastic asset for PE and the entire Eastern Cape," he said. "But, I see signs of decay - things breaking down like the air conditioning and the lighting. I really think its such an amazing jewel in the crown of the city that someone needs to take it in hand, fix it up and maintain The Feather Market for the fantastic asset that it is."
Flamboyant singer/entertainer Rocco de Villiers also performed on Saturday and said the lack of air conditioning had clearly made for an uncomfortable experience for both the young and old in the audience. "My biggest concern is our responsibility to make sure that the lights work, that we maintain it and that it's always clean. We need our municipalities and people in charge to do the best they can so that the performers and audiences can bring their best."
Algoa FM News has approached the municipality for comment and is awaiting their reply.
picture: Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
