Motorists to pay more at meter

The respite from increased parking charges in Palmerston North comes to an end on Monday, when most on-street meter charges go up from $1.50 to $1.70 an hour.

The city council had intended to introduce the new charges on July 1, but that was delayed because of a public backlash about extending charged hours into late week evenings and Sundays.

The council decided on July 7 to put the proposed new hours on hold to allow for a period of public consultation, which is likely to start next week and be reviewed at a meeting in September.

Most off-street parking charges would be a standard $1 an hour, to a maximum of $5 a day. Parking fees will be waived for people parking in Fitzherbert Ave to attend the Covid-19 vaccination centre. Those people could get vouchers that gave them one hour’s free parking.

Council environmental protection services manager Kerry-Lee Probert said the vouchers were being managed by the MidCentral District Health Board.