Parking meter confusion puts strain on North Hobart businesses
A shop owner who has been paying for customers’ parking fines amid “confusing” new rules has begged the council to remove parking meters along the busy North Hobart strip. LATEST >>
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A SHOP owner who has found herself paying for customers’ parking fines amid “confusing” new rules has begged the council to remove parking meters along the busy North Hobart strip.
Winning’s Newsagency co-owner Lisa Martin has worked in North Hobart for more than 25 years and has penned her first letter to Hobart City councillors after her frustrations about parking on Elizabeth St and surrounding streets bubbled over.
The council introduced paid parking at peak times in May, with 30-minute parking between 9am and 9pm now requiring payment from 11am-2pm and 5-8pm.
Since the major change, Ms Martin has seen drivers park at 9am, attempt to pay, then drive away confused when the machine wouldn’t accept their money.
“The signs aren’t clear,” she said. “We’re all down in trade.
“Customers are complaining every day to us, maybe every hour, and they’re heartbroken because they’ve had a parking ticket when they thought they were doing the right thing.”
Ms Martin feared for the viability of neighbouring retail businesses as the meters dealt a second blow after Covid-19.
Her letter to the council asked: “Without retail and restaurants, do we really have a North Hobart precinct?”
Ms Martin and other vendors have started a petition after witnessing parking spots become deserted – with the exception of idling Uber drivers.
“The Ubers sit in their cars and just play the system,” she said.
“Even people on adjoining streets and residents have put up signs in their front windows saying please go and sign the petition.”
The petition has called for the removal of parking meters and having free 30-minute parking reinstated in side streets.
“We further demand that the 30-minute limit only be enforceable between 9am and 6pm with unrestricted parking at all other times,” the petition reads.
HCC CEO Kelly Grigsby said several parking changes were introduced in consultation with local businesses and residents.
“This includes reducing fees in the off-street carparks and making them free in the evenings, and formalising on-street parking in residential streets,” Ms Grigsby said.
“The introduction of paid parking on Elizabeth Street during the peak lunch and dinner times was another of the outcomes from the community consultation and was supported by local trader and resident groups.”
Ms Grigsby said the Elizabeth St parking was for quicker visits, while off-street parking prioritised dine-in and longer-stay customers.
She said social food delivery drivers were required to comply with signed rules.
“We are always happy to receive feedback from the community and encourage anyone with specific concerns to contact us,” she said.
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