King William Rd traders say Unley Council’s claim to have created 70 carparks is nonsense
The car parking issue on the upgraded King William Rd goes from bad to bizarre.
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When is a parking space not a parking space – when it is full of tables and chairs or got a big bollard in front of it, King William Rd retailers say.
Unley Council claims to have created an additional 70 on-street-parks along the Hyde Park shopping precinct as part of its $16.5 million upgrade, but some traders argue that is simply not the case.
Restaurants and cafes that apply for a license can use the parking space as an outdoor dining setting, while bollards placed along the roadside protect diners from the nearby traffic.
Chris Tsoleridis, who has run the Extra Newsagency for more than 30 years with his brother Joe, says motorists are not coping with negotiating bollards, dining furniture and having to park at an angle up on the kerb.
“It’s like funniest home videos all day long here, but it’s not that funny - it’s harrowing” Mr Tsoleridis said.
“As I’m talking to you now someone has just hit a bollard.
“They can’t see them and let’s face it, most Adelaide drivers aren’t that good anyway.
“People can’t reverse park and that’s what you have to do along here.”
Mr Tsoleridis said Unley had erred in focusing on the needs of the restaurant trade over the requirements of other traders.
“They neglected our needs from the start,” he said.
“If the parking isn’t easy then people will just head to Unley (shopping centre) where there’s lots of parks.
“The street looks good but it’s not functioning properly. They’ve put in flower beds everywhere but motorists keep hitting them too.
“Next they’re going to have to put in more bollards to protect the flowers.”
Ros Ellery, from Denim Iniquity, said she was happy with the street’s transformation but parking remained an issue.
“It looks like we’ve had an earthquake some days with the cars up on the pavement at odd angles,” she said.
“I know council is desperately trying to find more parking at the back of shops.
“The place looks spectacular especially lit up at night and I do think it’s just a matter of us all getting used to the parking issue.”
Former Adelaide MP Michael Pratt said he knew the owners of several King William Rd businesses who were frustrated but not prepared to speak on the record.
“Council cannot argue they have created 70 odd parking spaces when half are filled with furniture – it’s just nonsense,” Mr Pratt said.
“Those bollards are a hazard you have to avoid.
“And if you can find a park you have to drive up the kerbing to get in there. I’ve seen some drivers literally stumble out of their car into the road it’s so steep.”
Project manager Rod Hook confirmed there were more than 70 “flexible parking spaces” available on the street from the corner of Park/Mitchell Streets to Arthur Street, Unley, where you can “potentially” park.
“But if a restaurant has applied for a licence for table and chairs then the bollard prevents parking and protects diners,” Mr Hook said.
“The bollards are not retractable but are movable if needs be.
“I walked along the road on Saturday night and found it to be bustling – so people are finding parks and visiting the area in large numbers.”
Mr Hook said before the project’s completion in January, new technology would be available to assist motorists.
“We’re installing smart parking sensors in each carparking space to enable real time parking information and better management,” he said.
“And we’ll be putting in some benches made by the Jam Factory as a final touch of the upgrade.”