Business owners at a loss over lack of parking spaces
HAIRDRESSER Leanne White has chipped in to pay for her customers' parking fines because she feels the parking situation in the area is unfair.
Ms White owns Lush Hair and Beauty on Ruthven St, a strip which recently lost its angle parking to make way for the addition of a bike lane.
The parallel parks outside her business are two-hour paid meters.
"The council has taken away half the parks to put in the bike lane. I'm not against the idea of having a bike lane but I never see anyone use it; cyclists use the footpaths instead," she said.
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"We've lost valuable parking for clients and the lack of parking is turning people away.
"We chose this location to be in the CBD and there was ample parking at the time but now I'm considering relocating the business."
Ms White has bought private parking for her workers because she did not want them walking from the nearest long-term parking spots available, at the PCYC.
"That's costing me $1600 a year," she said.
"It's not just about business but also a safety issue for us."
She said business owners in the area were running out of patience with the lack of parking in Ruthven St.
"People are screaming for it but nothing is being done," she said.
"I'm planning on organising a petition because there are so many people concerned."
The owner of La Taste Takeaway Paul Worrall said business in the whole area had dropped off.
"I'm not aware of anyone who thought the bike lane was a good idea," Mr Worrall said.
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He also had major concerns for the lack of accessibility to the library, particularly for elderly and disabled customers.
"I watched one old lady with her child who had Down Syndrome driving around trying to find a carpark and they were getting visibly upset," he said.
"The council has made the wrong decision when what you need is more car parks."
