Locals hopping mad after street parking around Collingwood Town Hall taken up by Yarra Council staff

ANGRY people living near a Melbourne town hall are demanding answers after council staff were found to be taken up parking reserved for them outside their homes.

Residents upset council staff keep taking parking

FED-up residents living near the Collingwood Town Hall are frustrated Yarra Council staff are taking valuable on-street parking out the front of their homes.

S1 parking permits have been issued to council staff, exempting them from parking restrictions and allowing them to park in the streets all day.

A review on the issuing of the permits was due to be presented to the council in September, but a report has not been made available almost five months on.

Paul Seivers, who lives in Park St near the town hall, said his former elderly neighbour would have to park up to 100m away and walk to her home.

“The council are making us pay for these parking permits, yet they give them to employees for free,” Mr Seivers said.

“At times, you can’t even get in the street and you can’t get anywhere near your house.”

One residential permit costs $32.50, a second permit is $84 and a third costs $158.

Mr Seivers said the council should encourage staff to catch public transport or ride to work, as per their strategies and promotions.

It is believed all staff from the council can apply for a permit.

“They promote bicycle riding and public transport, yet they give every employee a parking permit to drive to work,” Mr Seivers said.

Yarra Mayor Roberto Colanzi said the council was aware of community concerns and was reviewing its staff parking and transport arrangements.

Cr Colanzi said a report had not been presented to the council as it had “taken extra time to fully engage with staff to better understand and evaluate their travel needs and practices”.

“We are generating ideas on how to reduce the need for them to travel to work by car, including how we can encourage more staff to use public transport, cycle and walk to work and between offices,” he said.

He said the council was aware of community concerns and was reviewing its staff parking and transport arrangements.

The review is due to be ­reported to the council in March.