Frankston traders call on the council, Bayside Shopping Centre for long-term parking solution
ANGER over car parking in central Frankston has erupted with traders lashing out at the council and shopping centre management.
South East
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LONG simmering anger over car parking in central Frankston has erupted with traders lashing out at the council and Bayside Shopping Centre.
Traders have signed a letter calling for the council, the State Government and the shopping centre to come up with a long-term solution to the area’s parking woes.
They slammed the centre’s management for increasing fees to $13 a day, and have started a petition calling for the centre to institute a ‘first three hours free’ parking deal similar to other large shopping centres to entice people back to Frankston.
“Frankston has suffered from lack of parking for more than 40 years,” traders said.
“We have lost business to Karingal, Mt Eliza, Mornington and other nearby centres that have free and untimed parking.”
The criticism comes as more than 50 parking spaces are expected to disappear during the $50 million train station rebuild starting in May.
Mayor Colin Hampton said council was working on a long term parking plan for Frankston.
“Council has prepared an amendment to the Frankston Planning Scheme for the Victorian Government’s approval to better manage car parking demand into the future,” he said.
“A parking co-ordination committee comprising council, Bayside Shopping Centre, Chisholm Institute, Monash University, Peninsula Health and Public Transport Victoria will be established in the near future.”
Bayside Shopping Centre manager Gabe North-Harney said the centre had paid parking in place for many years to ensure its parking was reserved for customers and retailers.
“We want to ensure our customers and retailers can access the centre easily at any time and without congestion caused by neighbouring businesses, commuters using the Frankston transport hub and students coming to the nearby TAFE,” she said.
“Our parking rates have been fixed to meet customer expectations and how long they generally visit our centre, which is about 90 minutes on average.”
She said parking at the centre was free all day on Sundays.