Parking nightmare

By NICOLE WILLIAMS

Space shortage leaves businesses fuming over…

BERWICK businesses are at their wits’ end with parking restrictions costing them money and losing them customers.
The parking areas off Adams Lane, also known as the Southside carpark, have a small number of unrestricted parking spaces, but the remainder are limited to two hours.
Mayda Apoyan, owner of Zelouse on High, and Marien Pellissier, owner of Berwick Family Footwear, believe parking spaces are not enough and the roadworks on Clyde Road are only making it worse.
Ms Apoyan said she had lost 30 per cent of her hairdressing clients.
“Once they go, it is hard for us to bring them back,” she said.
“We try to give good service, but no one is going to put up with the extra hassle.”
Ms Apoyan said customers could often spend more than two hours in the salon and then they return to find a parking ticket on their windscreen.
“Council doesn’t seem to understand strip shopping, plus it is hilly and more people around a mature age, so you can’t judge on how fast you or I will walk around.”
Ms Pellissier and Ms Apoyan’s staff have also received parking fines, after being unable to move their cars in time.
“The staff have to keep going and shifting cars,” Ms Apoyan said.
“If they start at 9am, it’s alright but if they start later they can’t find a park.”
Ms Pellissier said the roadworks were making it difficult to attract and keep customers.
“With the drama on Clyde Road, it is hard enough to get customers here and then we have to shut up shop to move the car,” she said.
“We don’t want to use the two-hour parking, but there is nowhere else to put the car.”
Ms Pellissier suggested a parking permit for business owners and staff or an amnesty until the roadworks are complete.
City of Casey manager transport Paul Hamilton said that the parking restrictions in the Berwick Village Activity Centre are structured to provide a mix of short-term and all-day parking, with 65 per cent of the 580 spaces being unrestricted.
“Short term parking controls are located in the highest demand areas to encourage turnover of spaces and maximise availability for customers,” he said.
“The two-hour restrictions cover a wide range of customer visits.
“Those visitors planning to stay longer need to ensure they park in an all-day area.”
Mr Hamilton said observations by council officers indicated that parking supply in the Berwick Village Activity Centre was appropriate for the current levels of activity.