The Gold Coast Bulletin

PARKING MAD ROW

- NICHOLAS MCELROY nicholas.mcelroy@news.com.au

A GOLD Coast City councillor is in a war of words with a neighbouri­ng businessma­n after she admitted overstayin­g a parking limit in front of her divisional office.

The businessma­n snapped photos of the councillor’s car outside his shop yesterday and claims she regularly parks over the limit. The councillor said it was a one-off because she was busy.

A GOLD Coast City councillor admitted overstayin­g a parking limit in front of her divisional office, but denied being “atrocious” toward a business owner who dobbed her in.

Storm Cycles owner Terry Bosworth took the job of council parking officers into his own hands when he claims Tugun councillor Gail O’Neill again exceeded her parking limit yesterday.

Mr Bosworth, who snapped photos of Cr O’Neill’s car outside his shop on Golden Four Dr yesterday, claims she is a repeat offender. Cr O’Neill said it was a one-off because she was busy.

He also claimed Cr O’Neill came into his shop “with guns blazing” and “aggressive­ly” demanded to know why he took the photos midmorning.

About an hour after the confrontat­ion – where Mr Bosworth conceded he did become “verbal” – the businessma­n emailed Mayor Tom Tate, Cr O’Neill’s office and media. He also copied in the Queensland Ombudsman which investigat­es complaints against the public service.

Cr O’Neill told the Bulletin she had parked in the spot for longer than she was allowed, but she did not do it regularly.

“I was parked there for more than an hour and it’s hour parking,” Cr O’Neill said.

“I was actually on my way out to a meeting but that got cancelled and I got tied up with phone calls and things like that, so of course I should have moved my car. He maintains I do it regularly. I don’t believe I do it regularly.”

Cr O’Neill said she did not become “aggressive” and suggested “old fashioned” communicat­ion would have been more productive.

“I dispute that I stormed into his office. I did not raise my voice once. I wasn’t agitated, he was agitated and I could tell that,” Cr O’Neill said.

“I just said to him ‘pop in and talk to me’. I guess he just had a lot of issues with council that came to the fore and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I know how hard it is to survive and sometimes when you see things that restrict you, you get angry.”

Mr Bosworth said his frustratio­n with council had been building for years: “... with the inordinate amount of time it takes them to complete footpaths and roadworks in the area”.

Mr Bosworth alleges Cr O’Neill “came in enraged, asking why I took the photo, and I said I took it as evidence.

“She was very aggressive, I got verbal as well. She came into my business attacking me.”

He said it felt like a handful of council decisions had hurt his business.

“Council treats us like we’re their servants. I’m tired of the arrogance of the public servants whose job it is to help us, not s--- on us – I won’t have it.

“It’s very difficult for small businesses to survive, all this stuff makes it harder.”

 ?? Picture: TERRY BOSWORTH/STORM CYCLES ?? Councillor Gail O'Neill (right) overstays the parking limit in front of her divisional office.
Picture: TERRY BOSWORTH/STORM CYCLES Councillor Gail O'Neill (right) overstays the parking limit in front of her divisional office.
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