Retailers lament loss of car parks
LUKE KIRKEBY
Redevelopment plans for Tokoroa’s Leith Pl are not sitting well with everyone.
Tokoroa businessman Jack Hoggard recently organised a petition to stop the redevelopment of the business precinct.
He collected 500 signatures from residents and business owners in less than a month who claim only minor ‘‘housekeeping’’ is needed.
Hoggard is concerned the loss of more than 30 car parks will cause travellers to carry on through.
‘‘A fundamental principle with all commercial development in the central business district is that you make a contribution to parking, every property owner in this location has done that, but the council is taking away over 30 car parks.’’
Fellow businessman David Foote said the removal of the car parks will mean Tokoroa will miss out on business altogether.
‘‘If they take the car parks away when you are coming off state highway one you aren’t going to stop here, you will go south to the Bull Ring or Beez Neez in Atiamuri,’’ he said.
The South Waikato District Council is compensating for the loss of car parks by upgrading Dreghorn car park which is a 500m walk from Leith Pl.
But Foote said it will do little to help.
‘‘People travelling, even if they know about the park, won’t want to park away from Leith Pl,’’ he said.
Tokoroa CBD Upgrade project manager Sarah Flavall said the council was set on progressing with the redevelopment.
‘‘Council is steady in its decision to move ahead with the Tokoroa CBD Upgrade, and though we hear the concerns from these petitioners, we hear more loudly the comments of support from our community and the need to move Tokoroa into a brighter future,’’ she said.
He said there will be the same number of disabled car parks and parking will be monitored to ensure there is enough at all times for shoppers.