Preston Market ditches confusing parking ticket machines in favour of ‘pay and display’

THERE will be free parking until year’s end at the Preston Market with management agreeing to get rid of confusing meters in favour of a ‘pay and display’ system.

Preston Market will install new ‘pay and display’ parking meters after community feedback that the current meters are too confusing. Picture: Steve Tanner

SHOPPERS can enjoy free parking at Preston Market this week as Darebin Council and market management work to simplify the market’s new parking ticket machines.

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The market’s controversial machines have been switched off until January 3, when a new ‘pay and display’ system is expected to be in place.

Market shoppers will no longer have to enter a licence plate number into the machines, which are to be reconfigured to issue shoppers with ‘pay and display’ tickets for their vehicles.

Car parking at the market will continue to be free for the first two hours and restricted to a maximum of four hours.

Signage will be displayed on ticketing machines and around the market to explain the temporary arrangements.

Darebin Council mayor Kim Le Cerf said the temporary arrangements would make parking at the market “easier for everyone”

“We have gathered a range of concerns from the community,” Cr Le Cerf said.

“We’re pleased that Preston Market has taken these concerns on board and our people are working with them to help resolve this situation as quickly as possible.”

The latest development comes after the council was forced on Friday to overturn a bid from councillors to suspend parking arrangements at the market due to contractual obligations with the market site.

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