Bathurst RSL Club has asked council to turn 145 of the all-day parking spaces behind the club into timed parking with a four-hour limit, re-igniting fears that workers in the CBD will have nowhere left to park.
General manager of Bathurst RSL Peter Sargent said the introduction of the mobile parking car has driven more people than ever into the car park behind the club, and this is starting to have a significant impact on afternoon trade.
He said while the club is fortunate to do a lot of its business on weekends or after hours, daytime trade has taken a real hit because, unless members are there before 9am, they have no chance of finding a place to park.
Mr Sargent has put in a request to council that a four-hour time limit be placed on three rows of spaces directly behind the club and in the area adjacent to the public toilet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He said the request was not just for the benefit of the club, but all business in the area with customers who use the car park.
“Council put the mobile parking matrol in to alleviate pressure on businesses and in the process forced every all-day parker into that car park,” Mr Sargent said.
“There is no question that something has to be done. This is the only all-day car park on this side of town. We understand people working in the CBD need a place to park, but our customers need a place, too.”
Crowe Horwath, located in neighbouring George Street, has more than 40 staff members who use the car park.
Receptionist Vicki Webb said they were aware the RSL Club was only asking for three rows of parking to be time-limited, however, they have been told council is considering introducing timed parking throughout the car park.
Ms Webb said council staff have been conducting a survey about whether businesses are in favour of the introduction of timed parking throughout the car park. The staff member who was carrying out the survey confirmed the council-owned RSL car park was the only all-day car park in the CBD.
Ms Webb said you have to wonder whether this is another revenue raising move by council.
Chair of the Bathurst Traffic Committee, Cr Warren Aubin said while he hasn’t seen the report which will go before the committee, it is his understanding that council is not considering timed parking across the whole car park – just the spaces requested by Bathurst RSL Club.
“The RSL Club is losing a lot of patronage because people are going elsewhere,” Cr Aubin said,
“The RSL Club gives a lot back to the community. I think what they are asking is fair. I think people can be reassured, however, that some all-day parking will remain in the middle of the car park at this stage.”
