Early morning carpark lockout a boom for Prahran Market shoppers

PRAHRAN Market customers appear to have changed their shopping habits in a bid to avoid parking dramas.

People have been complaining about the parking at Prahran Market - saying there are no spaces yet the market is empty.

PRAHRAN Market customers appear to have changed their shopping habits in a bid to avoid parking dramas.

Stonnington Council last year introduced barriers to prevent people parking on the ground level of the council-run carpark before 9am, seven days a week.

The change was prompted by a high number of customer and trader complaints about the council-operated Elizabeth St carpark being constantly full during weekday business hours, leaving no room for people who wanted to shop at the market.

But since implementing the barriers, market management said the complaints have “basically stopped”.

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Prahran Market general manager Christopher Young told Stonnington Leader he had received just one complaint so far in 2015, compared to “daily complaints” last year.

Mr Young said it appeared early-bird shoppers were instead opting to come later to ensure a park on the ground level.

“It appears some of the shoppers are deliberately arriving at 9am when those barriers go down,” Mr Young said.

“They’ve changed their shopping pattern.

“It seems to be working well. The day parkers park higher up and the parks turn over enough that you can always find a space on the lower deck.”

Stonnington Council chief executive Warren Roberts said they had recently received two complaints about the market spaces not being opened at 9am, a mistake that had since been addressed.

“This arrangement is working well and will be maintained,” Mr Roberts said.

“Council is not presently assessing any specific parking proposals for the Elizabeth St car park.”