Footscray parking meters on hold but Yarraville, West Footscray, Seddon might go ahead

Paid parking in Footscray has been put on hold after furious traders petitioned the council. But three other suburbs could be next on the list.

Fierce backlash from the Yarraville community four years ago successfully stopped the roll out of parking meters in the area.

Paid parking in Footscray is on hold after more than 200 angry traders petitioned Maribyrnong Council.

The council wants to charge $1.80 an hour at 3000 parking spaces in a bid to tackle congestion in Footscray.

But chief executive Stephen Wall at last Tuesday night’s council meeting said the date would be put back until the council had time to consider a 200-signature petition from the Footscray Asian Business Association, who say they were not properly consulted about the change.

Some traders say parking in Footscray is at capacity and parking meters would increase turnover.

Planning services director Nigel Higgins said a community advisory group consulted two years ago included traders from Braybrook, Footscray CBD, Footscray Hospital, Highpoint, Seddon, West Footscray, Whitten Oval, and Yarraville.

Mr Higgins said Footscray neighbours and traders were told about the parking meter plan and given a chance to comment at drop-in sessions in April.

He said more than 500 posters had also been distributed throughout Footscray CBD.

Not all traders are against the meters.

Footscray Traders Association president Stuart Lucca-Pope, who was on the consultation committee, said the parking meters were desperately needed.

“I am fully in favour of paid parking to free up spots,” he said.

“Even with the two-hour time limit, people are pulling out of car parks for 10 seconds and going back in.”

MORE NEWS:

RICH VS POOR WAR ERUPTS OVER COMMUNITY CENTRE

FOOD CHARITY A LIFELINE FOR STRUGGLING MUM

MARIBYRNONG COUNCIL TO REINTRODUCE METERS TO FOOTSCRAY

But he warned the scheme could clog residential streets and there would be nowhere for traders to park all day for free.

“There’s an all day car park at Middle Footscray station, but that fills up at 6.30am,” he said.

Paid parking meters may also be reintroduced to Yarraville, West Footscray, and Seddon.

The council has installed parking sensors in the three suburbs and may install parking meters to increase car turnover if capacity hits the council’s 85 per cent trigger.

Parking meters were installed in Yarraville four years ago, but were quickly switched off after fierce backlash from the community and traders, who blamed them for a 50 per cent drop in business.