Parking restrictions look likely

Calls to introduce time-restricted parking in Feilding are being made to free up spaces for customers.

The Manawatu¯ District Council has agreed to review its parking bylaw in the central business district, following a public plea from a group of retailers who say there is a critical shortage of car parks.

The problem is accentuated by some retailers parking in front of other businesses all day, they say.

Free parking is part of the ‘‘friendly Feilding’’ identity but has lately been under scrutiny.

A subcommittee was formed after a public meeting in June, when Feilding and District Promotion chairman Jason Smith said business owners and employees were violating an ageold informal agreement of refraining from parking outside other shops.

Instead, they should use public car parks elsewhere when coming to work, to free up town centre parks for potential customers.

Feilding Parking Action Committee chairman Mark O’donnell said members had observed parking habits and locations and monitored lighting in various areas at night and had noted some areas were poorly lit.

‘‘Improved lighting would make these areas safer and more usable,’’ he recommended in a letter to the council.

The committee’s preferred option was to introduce a twohour time restriction for all parking spaces in the central business district, with enforcement action taken for breaches.

‘‘The parking habits ... need to be changed to ensure that the lifeblood of the CBD, our customers, have sufficient parking spots.’’

Policy adviser Lisa Thomas said officials had received two complaints about car parking.

Although the existing bylaw did have certain rules, they were not enforced. Before any amendment could be made, officials would research the costs involved with introducing an enforcement scheme.

Councillor Barbara Cameron said it was a good time to have the bylaw reviewed.

‘‘People overstay but there’s no infringement or enforcement. It makes a nonsense of having a bylaw with no teeth.’’

Manawatu¯ deputy mayor Michael Ford, a former chairman of Feilding Promotion, once looked at the possibility of building a two-storey parking lot in the town but the costs were too high.