Angle parking remains

‘‘[This block] is turning into another Broadway. The council seem to be making some stupid decisions.

‘‘We’ve already got an empty shop next door, and Aquisitions is moving into The Plaza.’’

The Square’s parks were rarely empty and the council’s plans would only make it more difficult for shoppers, she said.

Hawley said many of her regulars were elderly, and weren’t able to make the walk from The Plaza, or the Downtown car park, and many would just go somewhere else.

Bruce Watt Photography owner Dave Edmonds said he’d lose business too and all the nearby business owners were frustrated by the council’s limited consultation on the plan.

Apart from a public meeting a few months ago, they had heard nothing about what was actually happening, he said.

He was also concerned about the future of the loading zone in front of his store, used by 10 businesses for deliveries.

‘‘Basically, they [council] came in and said ‘this is going to happen’ and that’s it.

‘‘It’s almost as if it’s all planned around The Plaza and stuff the rest of the town.’’

Murphy said the goal remained to make The Square more about people and less about cars.

The 90-degree parking, which would still be the preference when vehicle numbers dropped to about 5000 vehicles a day, would give people a better view into The Square from the footpath.

Murphy said the angle parks were an interim solution and the markings could be easily changed later, after other sections of The Square had been changed, and when it was safe to do so.