A South Kingsville milk bar owner says business has halved since
Hobsons Bay council made his small shopping strip a one-way street.
Elly “Big Al” Haddad said customers had abandoned his shop because it was no longer easy to access.
“I’ve probably lost half of my business,” he said. “All the street
from Aloha to Brunel [streets] is closed for one-way traffic so people
from Blackshaws Road, they can’t access my shop any more.
“People come from Altona, on the way to go to work in the morning,
very busy. They used to come, sneak into my shop, pick up stuff and
then go back to Brunel and go to work.
“All the people, now, from the area above Aloha Street, they go and shop at The Circle most of them.
“It’s very sad. I saw two of my customers there and one of them
said, ‘I tell you what, I’m not embarrassed to see you, but the truth is
I don’t go to Vernon any more because it’s one-way, not convenient any
more’.”
Restaurateur Jimmy Marwaha said parking issues exacerbated the
problem, with customers not assured of spaces. He said that his diners
had complained that they had to park in nearby Kernot Street.
Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair said more than 500 surveys on a
proposed three-month trial had been distributed to residents, traders
and others. She said 81 submissions had been received, 88 per cent of them supporting the trial and 12 per cent against.
“Of the responses received, seven out of 10 traders supported the one-way traffic redirection,” she said.
“Of those that supported the initiative, it was acknowledged that
the one-way traffic had significantly improved traffic flow, reduced
road congestion and created a safer environment for both pedestrians and
motorists.”
She said further improvements to traffic and parking would be investigated.
