Battling Chapel St traders outraged over council plan to ditch carparking
As if the pandemic wasn’t tough enough, now Chapel St traders say a battle with Stonnington council to remove carparking on the shopping strip in favour of a bike lane could signal the end for many businesses.
Victoria
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Chapel St traders are up in arms over a draft plan to remove street parking to make way for bicycle lanes along their struggling shopping strip.
Businesses say they are battling to survive during the COVID-19 crisis and the Stonnington council’s latest cycle strategy was a “heartless’’ move.
Traders fear the loss of parking between Greville St and Toorak Rd.
Chapel St Precinct Association president Justin O’Donnell said his members were concerned they had not been represented in council surveys conducted so far.
“Where are the traders who have skin in the game? With the current pandemic and stress we are under, for the council to do this is completely inappropriate.
“To do this now is just heartless,’’ Mr O’Donnell said.
Any plans should be put on hold until after the pandemic, at the very least, he said.
He also questioned a council assertion that the move would encourage more cyclists to the area for shopping.
“I don’t see many cyclists with baskets full of goods. I do see people looking for somewhere to park their car to do their shopping.’’
Lucky Penny cafe owner Matt Lanigan said his trade had dropped by 80-90 per cent since the restrictions began four months ago and had turned the business to a takeaway and grocery shop.
“This latest plan for the street is the last thing we need.’’
Sam Koulis has run his menswear shop Sam & Ko on the strip for 28 years and says losing parking could signal the end for his business and many others.
“If this comes in, I’ll lock my doors and leave,’’ Mr Koulis said.
“It just doesn’t make sense.’’
A Stonnington council spokesman said the recently adopted cycling strategy identified Chapel St as a major area of safety concern for cyclists.
“While the strategy suggests measures to improve cyclist safety, no specific treatments have been approved at this stage,’’ he said.
“Any safety initiatives considered would be tailored to the physical constraints of the specific location on Chapel St, and any proposal would be considered in consultation with Chapel Street residents, traders and the precinct association.’’
Mr Koulis said the existing time limits on Chapel St – currently one and two hours – needed to be extended by an hour to give people more time to shop and dine out.
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