Since the patrols started on March 3, the car park behind the Bathurst RSL Club had been inundated with motorists looking for an all-day park.

General manager Peter Sargent said that those wanting to get a spot for the day had to get in bright and early. 

“After 9.30, 10am, your chances are shot. It does clear up again around 4pm, 5pm, though,” he said. “It has no doubt prompted people to be more careful and look for longer term parking.”

When the Western Advocate spoke with Mr Sargent shortly after 11am yesterday, he said there was not a single all-day park available.

Mr Sargent said the increasing popularity of the car park had made it more difficult for customers to find a parking spot near the RSL club.

“We have had heaps of complaints from customers,” he said.

“It definitely impacts our lunch trade. People have been commenting readily about how hard it is to find a park,” he said.

Mr Sargent said that a number of customers who visited during the day were senior citizens and did not want to walk long distances to get to the RSL club.

He added that the lack of parking meant staff were forced to park on the loading dock.

“We have been letting them park there because it is the only place they can get, but that is also creating congestion.”

While the RSL car park was full to the brim yesterday, there were a couple of spots available at the car park behind Beck’s Bakery and there were plenty of spots available at the car park at Bathurst McDonald’s.

“There are spots in the Maccas car park, but people here don’t want to walk a couple of blocks to work, where as in Sydney that would be nothing.”

Mr Sargent said Bathurst was in desperate need of more all-day parking spaces in the CBD.

“Council are looking to get more capacity where they can which is good,” he said.

Bathurst Regional Council’s traffic committee chairman Councillor Warren Aubin said a report proposing new all-day parking spaces would go before council tomorrow night. 

He said that at their latest meeting, the traffic committee had examined a report from the engineering department, which proposed to increase the number of all-day parking spaces at the car park at 79 George Street (behind Beck’s Bakery).

He said the committee had approved the proposal, which will see 27 three-hour parking spaces extended to all-day parking spaces.

“The report will go through to full council and I don’t think there will be any opposition,” he said.

Cr Aubin noted that while council had no plans to introduce any other all-day parking spots, they would continue to monitor the parking situation. 

He added that council’s goal was to eventually build a multi-level car park.

“It is on the agenda for future years, but the timing of that depends on the need.”

Cr Aubin noted that while parking times had always been enforced, the mobile parking patrols meant people had a greater chance of being caught out.

“People are looking for more off-street parking now, especially when they are going to work or shopping for a couple of hours,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, though, I think it’s a win-win situation. It does make people think about being in spots for too long, there is more turnover and more spaces on the streets.”