WITH parking in the central business district at a premium, it comes as no surprise that there has been a call to make a temporary car park permanent.
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Part of the former Clancy Motors site was transformed into a public car park to assist people while the intersection of Howick and George street was closed for refurbishment.
The temporary car park provided an additional 35 parking spaces and, although the work at the intersection is essentially finished, the spaces are still available.
Councillor Warren Aubin said that he would like to see that car park remain open permanently to help address parking issues in the CBD.
"I think it is wonderful and should stay open as parking," he said.
However, the issue is that the site is privately owned, with the parking agreement made "in good faith".
Cr Aubin said council has previously looked at purchasing the site, but a potential sale didn't progress further than that.
At this time, its unknown when the temporary car park will be closed.
Mayor Graeme Hanger said it was all up the owner of the site to decide, with council having no say.
"The owner of the site made the area available for parking during the works which assisted local businesses during the road works. It will be up to the owner as to when the site is to close," he said.
"Council did not monitor daily usage rates of the Clancy's car park during the George-Howick roundabout reconstruction works, however it appeared to be taken up as a parking option by some shoppers.
"The future use of the Clancy's site is a matter for the owner to determine and council has had no advice as to the sites future use."
Parking has been an ongoing issue in Bathurst.
In 2013, council introduced a mobile parking enforcement vehicle, which has helped to increase the turnover of parking spaces.
Council has also rolled out lined parking in some parts of the CBD, most recently on one block of Keppel Street between George and William streets, and there is every chance more lined parking will be added.
"Marked car parking spaces in Keppel Street have assisted in maximising parking spots available in this location," Cr Hanger said.
"Any future locations for an extension of marked parking spaces would need to be the subject of a report to the traffic committee."
He said council would continue to monitor the situation.
"Council's Traffic Committee considers changes to on-street car parking throughout the city on a regular basis and will make recommendations for changes," he said.
