Liz Moh campaigning for parking restrictions to be changed along Canterbury Road Blackburn South

A Blackburn South mum is on a mission to change “unfair” parking restrictions along a busy road in Melbourne’s east, after she copped a fine while out with friends.

Liz Moh is pushing for parking restrictions to be changed along Canterbury Rd Blackburn South, where one hour restrictions are in place along one side of the road until 10pm.

A Blackburn South mum is on a mission to change “illogical” parking restrictions along a busy shopping strip.

Liz Moh copped a $96 fine from Whitehorse Council at 7.45pm on October 25 after she overstayed the one hour parking limit while parked along the south side of Canterbury Rd – opposite Woolworths and Priceline – while she was out with friends for dinner on a Wednesday night.

She was “shocked and angry” to discover there were parking restrictions in place so late in the night, when on the opposite side of the road drivers are allowed to park for an unlimited time after 6pm.

“I was shocked as I wouldn’t imagine that the area would have one hour parking until 10pm,” she said.

“I was like how can I get a fine in a residential area where it’s not like Glen Waverley or Box Hill (which have bigger shopping and dining precincts).”

“It seems unreasonable and confusing to why the parking restrictions are so different in such a small area, especially on two sides of the same road, and it impacts the local traders and their customers significantly.”

Ms Moh is now campaigning for the council to make the parking restrictions on both sides of the road the same, and she has the backing of a number of traders.

“They all noted that the restrictions should be consistent with the north side of Canterbury Rd, which is two hour 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and one hour 9am-12pm Saturday.”

She has presented her petition to the council who are now seeking the views of various businesses along the road.

The parking restrictions on the north side of Canterbury Rd in front of Woolworths.

The one hour limit on the south side, where there are a number of restaurants and a hairdresser.

Local trader Rose Fahey, who runs Hocus Pocus Hair Design on the south side of Canterbury Rd, said she “absolutely” supported Ms Moh’s push to get the parking restrictions changed.

She said several shop keepers had tried to get the parking restrictions changed when the one hour restrictions were first introduced several years ago, but the council wouldn’t help.

“So we’re very happy Liz is pushing it through, we’re very grateful,” Ms Fahey said.

“As a hairdresser we can’t afford to have clients only be allowed to park for an hour out the front when a colour or perm takes two hours to do.”

A Whitehorse Council spokesperson said one hour parking limits provided parking turnover to enable all road users in the area to access the parking along the road.

The busy shopping precinct along Canterbury Rd.

“Council has many areas across the municipality where different parking restrictions apply to either side of the road,” the spokesperson said.

“This could be due to specific business needs for various parking restrictions and have been supported by traders in the past.”

The spokesperson said the council understood parking restrictions along this section of Canterbury Rd may no longer meet the needs of the community.

“For this reason, we are seeking views from the various businesses directly affected by the existing parking restrictions (between Orchard Grove and Wreford Road) to determine whether parking changes will be supported.”

The council spokesperson said in-ground sensors were installed on Canterbury Rd in August last year.

The council did a letter drop and visited all businesses within the area before they were installed.

“In the last 12 months, council have issued a total of 53 infringements, which suggests the current parking restrictions are not having a negative impact on traders,” the spokesperson said.