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Ticket parking plan for Paddington’s Oxford Street would be ‘another nail in the coffin’

If a parking meter proposal for Oxford Street is approved it will be another nail in the coffin of the once thriving Paddington strip. That is the view of business owners as City of Sydney council prepare to vote on the plan on Thursday.

Business owners fear paid parking will lead to more empty shops along Oxford St
Business owners fear paid parking will lead to more empty shops along Oxford St

If a parking meter proposal for Oxford Street is approved it will be another nail in the coffin of the once thriving Paddington strip.

That is the view of business owners as City of Sydney council prepare to vote on the plan on Thursday.

The proposal is to install meters between Greens Rd and Oatley Rd on the southern side of Oxford St.

Four zones of meters are planned where there is currently two hour free parking and unlimited free parking.

At present parking is restricted between 6am and 10am Monday to Friday for use as a bus lane.

There is then two hour parking between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday and between 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday.

The proposal would see the bus lane restrictions retained. However, meters would be installed with two hour ticketed parking between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Drivers will only be able to park for free for 15 minutes.

Publican Sue Ritchie has said it will be another nail in the coffin for the street. Picture by DAMIAN SHAW
Publican Sue Ritchie has said it will be another nail in the coffin for the street. Picture by DAMIAN SHAW

Between 6pm and 10pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 10pm Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays there would be ticketed parking for up to four hours.

Sue Ritchie, who runs the Beauchamp Hotel in Oxford St with her husband Claude Bereny, said it would be the latest in a long line of decisions to damage businesses along the street.

“Oxford St needs parking meters like it needs a hole in the head.” she said. “This is council putting another nail in the coffin of Oxford St.

“Parking simply adds to the cost of a meal out or shopping trip. People will just go to Westfield for the free parking.

“I hate Westfield but even I get drawn in by the free parking, that’s what will happen.

“It has been death by a thousand cuts along here. There was the free parking at Westfield, the introduction of bus lanes, property owners charging high rents, the lock outs laws and now this.”

Robert Berkelouw (standing) has said the proposal will damage businesses along the street.
Robert Berkelouw (standing) has said the proposal will damage businesses along the street.

Robert Berkelouw, who runs Berkelouw Books in Oxford St, said there was no doubt that paid parking would damage businesses.

“What we need is longer free parking to ensure the cinema remains successful.

“I think the cinema is so important to so many business along here. It changes the whole dynamic of the street and we should be doing what we can to ensure it remains.”

The Paddington Society met on Monday night to discuss the proposal with president Will Mrongovius reporting that there was universal condemnation.

“This is a commercialisation of the Heritage Conservation Area of Paddington,” he said. “Parking meters result in motorists driving into un-metered nearby residential streets.”

He also questioned the “atrocious” timing of the proposal shortly before Christmas.

Will Mrongovius, second from left, said the plans would push motorists into the surrounding residential streets.
Will Mrongovius, second from left, said the plans would push motorists into the surrounding residential streets.

Describing it as an unwelcome festive gift, Ms Ritchie added: “Christmas is an important time for businesses but instead of concentrating on that we are spending time writing to councillors and traffic committees.

“This almost just slipped through, we weren’t consulted on it.”

The council said the proposal has come from business on Oxford St requested a review of parking restrictions.

“The city has reviewed parking operation on the southern side of Oxford St and identified the need to update restrictions to better service the needs of the community and align with existing ticket parking restrictions on the northern side of the street,” council traffic engineer Ben Mitchell said in a report to Thursday’s Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee.

Business owners say it is the latest in a long line of decisions that have damaged the shopping street
Business owners say it is the latest in a long line of decisions that have damaged the shopping street


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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/wentworth-courier/ticket-parking-plan-for-paddingtons-oxford-street-would-be-another-nail-in-the-coffin/news-story/560c565a9c2e2dae0278c244d9a25918