10 Jul 2009

Central city parking changes unpopular with retailers

5:47 am on 10 July 2009

A public meeting about an unpopular new parking regime in Dunedin prompted heated exchanges between retailers and city councillors on Thursday night.

Dunedin City Council has reduced the number of free parks in the central city from 730 to 50. The changes that came into effect on Monday.

They have been replaced with metered parks which can be occupied for up to four hours.

About 120 retailers attended a meeting at the Leviathan Hotel, as did Mayor Peter Chin and three councillors.

Retailers say the changes will have "catastrophic effects" on their businesses.

The council has now set up a committee to deal with the complaints, and find solutions for individual businesses.

The Fix coffee shop owner Mandy Smart says the council must start solving the issue immediately.