Your Say | Ridiculous parking fines in CBD, schools, hospitals
As Toowoomba Regional Council reviews its CBD parking strategy, commuters, shoppers and business owners have expressed their views on the issue.
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Toowoomba CBD business owners have spoken out over their desperate attempts to keep browsing customers shopping, often moving their cars so they avoid punishing fines.
It comes as Toowoomba Regional Council reviews its parking strategy, and it turns out, the business owners are not alone, as readers piled on with complaints about the CBD parking.
“I avoid the CBD Toowoomba because of parking,” Claire Kimlin said.
“The parking is horrendous, not to mentions the ridiculous parking a fines given out. Customers are being turned off visiting the CBD due to parking issues,” Biannca Catherine said.
“I no longer go into Toowoomba CBD because of this parking issue. I feel bad about that,” said Therese Houghton.
Judith Hemmings said she was booked despite her granddaughter being at the open car of the door while they waited for shops to open during the Carnival of Flowers.
“Don’t park in the CBD ever again,” she said.
Full-time CBD workers were to blame for taking up short-term parking, and someone suggested council just wanted everyone to shop at Grand Central.
“They need paid parking in the CBD area because staff from business like to park there all day free! I know this because people have told me they do it,” Jessie Cutler said.
“The council don’t want people shopping in CBD. They want you in Grand Central,” Luke Young said.
“Here’s the issue – no one wants to pay to park, they believe they should be able to park outside the business they wish to visit. If a private company built a multi story carpark, no one would use it as they need to pay, and it may be 300m from where they wish to visit,” Greg Lang said.
Jason Newman said the problem extended beyond just the CBD with fines being given during school pick-up.
“Get fined for picking kids up from school with council’s poor parking infrastructure around schools,” he commented.
“Hospital gets its fair share of fines too,” Gavin Mingay said.
David Hart commented that even parking beside Laurel Bank Park could attract a fine.
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