A proposed 10 per cent increase on parking meter fees in Williamstown has been abandoned by the Hobsons Bay council.
But traders say the U-turn doesn’t go far enough, with some demanding parking meters in Nelson Place be removed altogether or parking fees be introduced in other shopping centres to spread the burden.
As reported by Star Weekly last month, traders made a budget submission opposing a fee increase from $3 to $3.30 per hour, saying the dearest hourly rates in the west had turned their shopping strip into a “ghost town”.
Strand ward’s Cr Angela Altair told last week’s council meeting that councillors had listened to traders. “I think we do need to look at possibly dropping parking meters altogether during winter or providing some other incentive to help local traders in quiet months,” she said.
Williamstown Chamber of Commerce president Laura Nardo said members were pleased the council had decided to suspend any fee increase.
“We also welcome Cr Altair’s suggestions that parking meter fees be suspended in winter, and we would urge other councillors to support Cr Altair’s stand on this issue,” she said.
But Nelson Place trader Marty Grech said the move didn’t go far enough.
“It should be made fair across the whole of Hobsons Bay or taken out of Nelson Place because we’re still copping the brunt of it,” he said. “Looking at making it free in winter is just masking the fact that it’s ludicrous having parking meters in one street.
“What I’m going to be pushing next is to make it fair across the board and make the whole western suburbs make up the burden, rather than one street, because it’s killed us down here.”
The council made $884,000 from Nelson Place parking meters and 1506 fines in 2012-13.
