A CITY of Greater Bendigo councillor has called on the council to scrap its controversial new parking strategy.
In September last year the council voted to create 391 car parks by turning selected spaces from 45 degrees to 90 degrees, at a cost of
between $200,000 and $400,000.
The move has angered local workers, residents and bike riders who all fear for their safety because of the changes.
They claim a lack of visibility when exiting their driveways or car spaces could lead to an increase in car crashes around the CBD.
Some cyclists have also raised concerns, claiming it was almost impossible to see the tail lights of cars about to exit the new bays.
Eppalock Ward councillor Greg Williams has  taken the criticism on board, calling for the plan to be abandoned.
“We should scrap it and get on with building the multi-storey car park as was announced way back in 2004. That should have been completed by now,” he said.
“Council has not properly addressed the car parking issue for years and so now we are compromising safety in response.
“This policy was an act of desperation by council because of its inability to complete its major projects.”
Cr Williams criticised the council for not listening to its residents about the issue. “I don’t think there was any consultation at all about the changes to 90 degrees,” he said.
“I spoke against it when it was implemented,  both on that issue and the issue of safety.”
Mayor David Jones said council was on the right track with the car parking decision.
”Council has created more than 800 on-street parks in the CBD. They are also the cheapest option. These 800 parks have cost less than two per cent of what a multi-storey park would cost,” he said. “If there are places where people are inconvenienced, then I encourage people to contact council, but those who have private parks in the CBD must realise that we are striving to alleviate the shortage of parks with every means at our disposal.
“The completion of the Marketplace and the additional car parks there will also help. The Bendigo Weekly reported CBD traders as having had the best Christmas in 30 years and the council would be loathe to take out 800 car parks.”
Cr Williams also criticised council’s decision in November to undertake another parking
review, after not implementing any of the recommendations from the previous one in 2004.
“If this report is done properly it will tell us the same thing as the last one,” he said. “It is not going to tell us anything we don’t already know. It is just a waste of time and money.”