Illegal parkers hit with fines during level crossing removal works in Carrum
A STRUGGLING trader has accused council parking officers of being “overzealous” after locals trying to visit businesses in the area were hit with fines.
South East
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FRANKSTON line commuters are clogging Carrum streets with parked cars after the closure of Frankston, Kananook and Seaford train stations.
And business owners say trade is down and anger is rising over the “traffic chaos” in the suburb.
Station St traders and residents say that since level crossing removal work on the Frankston line began the small street and those surrounding it have been used as carparks, with many cars illegally parked.
The Carrum station carpark is also closed to make way for replacement bus services with commuters forced to find long term spaces elsewhere.
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Freddie Mansour said his profits had dropped by at least 30 per cent with customers unable to access his cafe.
“They don’t want to deal with the traffic chaos so they don’t come,” he said.
“Some have tried our delivery service but that hasn’t worked either because it takes us too long to navigate the traffic and get the orders delivered in a timely fashion.”
He said locals trying to visit businesses within the precinct were being hit with fines by “overzealous” parking officers.
“I’ve seen more parking inspectors in the street in the past two weeks than I have in the 23 years I have had this place,” Mr Mansour said.
“I know the council will say that they are trying to stop commuters from leaving their cars here all day, but they are showing no consideration for locals who dispute fines they have received while trying to go about their daily lives.”
Mr Mansour said he had also witnessed wing mirrors on parked cars smashed by passing buses and commuters falling while running in the rain from the bus stop to the train station.
His concerns have been echoed across social media with residents in nearby McLeod Rd complaining about illegally parked cars blocking driveways.
Vaughan Blom said a motorist parked over his driveway for several hours last week “blocking my pregnant wife who is overdue and may need to leave the house any minute for hospital”.
Planning and development general manager Jonathan Guttmann said the council’s parking officers were regularly patrolling the area in response to increased community concerns.
“As a result a higher number of infringements have been issued in the area,” Mr Guttmann said.
He said the council had also worked with the Level Crossing Removal Authority to provide part of the Carrum foreshore carpark for commuters.