Death to Chapel St: Traders protest Stonnington Council’s ‘deadly’ paid parking proposal

Chapel St traders took drastic action to highlight their opposition to a “deadly” paid parking proposal they fear will kill their iconic shopping strip.

Traders at one of Melbourne’s most iconic shopping strips fear it faces a grim future if the council introduces paid parking along the street.

A group of Chapel St traders protested the potential parking reforms by lying on the road next to tombstones on Wednesday morning.

A grim reaper also strolled along the shopping strip.

Chapel St business owners protested on the street.

In December, the Herald Sun revealed Stonnington Council planned to introduce paid parking along Chapel St and gradually remove free parking spots in a bid to discourage cars.

Tram super stops, more trees and bicycle racks were also part of the long term vision for the iconic retail precinct.

Traders warned removing car spaces and introducing paid parking will be the death of the iconic retail precinct.

Chapel Street Precinct Association general manager Matt Lanigan said Chapel St was “just beginning to regain its pulse”.

“If they strip away free parking, it would be nothing short of a death blow,” he said.

“Credit card data from the past 12 months shows 70 per cent of Chapel St’s transactions are made by visitors living beyond the City of Stonnington and the majority of them arrive in their cars.

“The survival of our businesses hangs precariously on the lifeline of free parking for these out of town shoppers.”

The traders started a petition with Council Watch to urge Stonnington Council not to make changes to the precinct’s parking.

Mr Lanigan slammed the council’s plans as “shortsighted” and “deadly for local businesses”.

Bohdi & Rode owner Michaela Fellner said 90 per cent of her clients drove to her studio.

“It would just be an additional cost for my clients who are already struggling during the cost of living crisis,” she said.

Bohdi & Rode owner Michaela Fellner says the majority of her clients drive to her studio.

“An additional charge will just put them off coming to the street entirely.

“Paid parking will be the nail in the coffin after the pandemic and the interest rate hikes.”

Sam and Ko owner Sam Koulis said paid parking would “probably destroy his business”.

“People want to come to shop, have a drink at the pub and go for a meal,” he said.

“They are already getting expensive parking tickets for staying ten minutes over and paid parking will only make this worse.”

Sam and Ko owner Sam Koulis says paid parking will drive shoppers away from the precinct.

The Herald Sun saw a parking inspector issued two parking tickets across the road from the protest

“Most of my loyal clients drive to come to my store,” Mr Koulis said.

“People will not come to Chapel St anymore.”

Spada Hair salon owner Ilona Gold said getting rid of parking would be “an act of pure stupidity.”

“Salons and their customers will suffer the most,” she said.

“This decision will drive our customers into the suburbs where free parking is guaranteed, and I simply cannot afford that.”

A Stonnington City Council spokesperson said community consultation for the Parking Action Plan had recently closed.

“It provided multiple opportunities for all members of the community to share their experiences relating to parking and the use of road space,” they said.