Moreland Council changes parking near where Jill Meagher was killed

BRUNSWICK residents are dreading walking home in the dark just metres from where Jill Meagher disappeared after a council rolled-out a no standing zone in their street.

A CHANGE to parking in a one-way street in Brunswick, just metres from where Jill

Meagher was murdered, has residents fearing for their safety.

Parking was banned on one side of Jones St in August by Moreland Council following a complaint, forcing residents to park streets away from their homes.

The council claimed cars need to give three metres of space to pass, which wasn’t possible on the narrow street without staggered parking.

IS THIS MELBOURNE’S WORST PLANNED STREET?

POLLUTION FORCES SICK WOMAN TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION

LIGHTS TO REPLACE DANGEROUS ROUNDABOUT

Jones St resident Jacquie Hawkins said the council didn’t consult with residents about the change and now she faced the “daunting” prospect of walking through dark streets to get to her car.

Residents Angus Robb, Jacquie Hawkins, and Nasr Abdullatif are worried about parking in their street. Picture: Ellen Smith

Ms Hawkins said with Jones St not far from where Ms Meagher was killed in 2012, she feared for her safety.

“It’s a lack of safety consideration that frustrates me,” she said.

“When you’re walking home in the dark in these streets it’s worrying. It’s not somewhere I feel comfortable at night.”

Jill Meagher who was killed in 2012. Picture: AFP PHOTO / AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Jones St resident Angus Robb said the council had failed to explore all options before making its decision.

He said the limited parking was often taken up by workers or shoppers given its proximity to Sydney Rd.

“There has been no effort by council to find out the best way forward,” he said.

COUNCIL DEFENDS NEW PARKING SIGNS

Moreland city infrastructure director Grant Thorne said the restrictions have not resulted in a loss of parking spaces, as cars were required to stagger parking on either side of the road before the signs were installed.

He said inspectors from the council had monitored the street and found parking was not being staggered and it created a hazard for emergency vehicles accessing the street.

But Ms Hawkins questioned why that had been raised in her street.

“It’s discriminatory to our street … this could just about happen in any other narrow street,” she said.

Mr Thorne said the council was proposing to install timed parking on the south side of the street to discourage nonresidents and would begin consulting with residents.

MORE NEWS

PAID PARKING METERS SCRAPPED AFTER BACKLASH

90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN INUNDATED FOR ORDERS FOR HER CHARITY BEARS

NEW MURAL TO HONOUR FURNITURE KING