By BRIDGET COOK
MORE than 400 people signed a petition to have parking restrictions along a Cranbourne North boulevard removed because it is affecting businesses.
A petition was tabled at last week’s council meeting calling on the council to remove parking restrictions outside the shops on William Thwaites Boulevard.
The council recently installed a restricting post-fence along both sides of the boulevard to stop people from illegally parking along the road when using the shops.
With only four parking spaces outside a row of shops, businesses have called to have the restrictions removed to allow their customers to have spaces to park.
Angelo Galanoulis, who owns Off the Boat Fish and Chip Shop along the boulevard, said the new restrictions had affected his business and many others.
“We only have four parking spots here, and that’s not enough,” he said.
“There’s a car park out the back but most people don’t know it’s there and don’t want to have to park there when they just need to run in quickly.
“There are now posts in the way along the side of the road to stop people from pulling up on the footpaths.
“We have a lot of visitors and passers-by, but now they can’t get a car park so they don’t stop.
“They prefer to go somewhere else we it’s easy to stop and find a park.
“It’s affecting us a lot and we want some help from the council to fix this problem.”
Councillor Sam Aziz, who tabled the petition on behalf of business owners and residents, said the council would look into the problem.
“The council has imposed some parking restrictions and it’s affecting shopper and trader activity,” he said.
“We don’t want to be unreasonable with people.
“Parking restrictions are put in place to control traffic and sometimes they need to happen.
“But if they are interfering with trading behaviour then we need to have a look at it.
“So now the council will review the matter.”
A report on the matter will come back to a future council meeting.
