Meters hurting business
Mr Chris Economidis believes he may have to relocate his very successful auto-electrics business because of the new parking meters outside his shop in Jane Street, West End
“I got six parking tickets last week and four at the same time in one day. That is $450 I have to pass onto my customers” said Chris Economidis .
Mr Ray Wilmot is concerned for his business and his neighbour Monty’s Auto Repairs Shop, which has been in business in Mollison Street for 23 years offering trade services to locals. They were issued 6 parking fines in one day.
“No business can survive if they are paying for parking fines daily,” said Chris Economidis
“These small businesses are the last remaining service trade business in the West End peninsula,” said Cr Abrahams. “When these businesses go, it means the residents will have to drive out of the peninsula for these services. This will add to the inner city travel congestion.”
“These service trade business should be encouraged to stay to meet the needs of 33 000 future residents for the peninsula.”
“Instead the Lord Mayor’s parking meters are driving them out of the suburb and increasing congestion as people will have to drive further to get their cars serviced,” said Helen Abrahams
“Campbell Newman’s Liberal Council is giving the green light to some traders and ruining the business of others,” said Cr Abrahams
“Coffee shops without parking meters are doing a roaring trade while the main retail strip is almost empty during the early morning take away coffee peak time.”
Half the meters in Boundary Street start at 8 am while the meters start at 7 am outside the majority of the coffee shops.
Peter Marinelli of the Swiss Deli advised that his regular customers are staying away. “It is too difficult to find a car park, pay the meter and then come in for a coffee,” he said. “They are going to where there are no parking meters.”
“The Lord Mayor is playing with people’s livelihoods without any consultation or even a second thought to the impact on hard working people already hit by the economic downturn,” said Cr Abrahams
“The Lord Mayor has to consult with the West End Traders,” said Cr Abrahams. “He should pick up the phone and talk to Mr Peter Marinelli of the West End Traders Association. He has to come to a meeting to hear the real impact on these local businesses. He has to provide free, short terming parking for the take-away traders and business meters for the small traditional services trades in the area,” said Cr Abrahams
