By Belinda Nolan
FURIOUS traders have slammed Maribyrnong City Council’s decision to install paid parking in Footscray’s CBD, accusing councillors of breaking their pre-election promises.
And they say they will continue their fight to stop them being installed.
Footscray business owners have been fuming since last Tuesday’s council meeting at which five out of six councillors voted in favour of the proposal.
The plan would see 21 on-street and nine off-street ticket machines placed around Barkly St, Hopkins St, Albert St, Paisley St, Leeds St, Droop St, Irving St, French St and Byron St.
Opposition to the scheme has raged since 2004, with traders claiming paid parking could drive shoppers away from Footscray and cost them business.
The council had voted in favour of the machines last June but in September decided to delay installation pending a council report after continuing pressure from traders.
And a majority of councillors have again voted to proceed with the plan and said they will rollout the machines in the next two months.
The machines are expected to reap the council more than $100,000 each year.
It was a shock decision for traders who claim several councillors had promised to support them but had instead voted in favour of the machines.
Surveys conducted by the Footscray Asian Business Association in November last year revealed that prior to elections, councillors John Cumming, Sarah Carter and Michael Clarke were strongly opposed to the parking meters.
But at the council meeting, Cr Cumming was the only one who voted against the machines.
Both Crs Carter and Clarke admitted they had initially promised to support the traders but said they had later had a change of heart.
Cr Carter said since becoming a councillor, she had been given access to further information which had helped change her mind.
“I apologise to traders if they feel I have betrayed my promise but I feel I have ultimately made the right decision for the Footscray community,” Cr Carter said.
“The machines that have already been installed have been a great success and implementing the rest of them will increase parking turnover making it possible for shoppers to get a spot where they weren’t able to before.”
But traders say they are disappointed councillors bailed on their promises.
“We knew we faced an uphill battle but the about-face was completely unexpected,” said Footscray Traders Association member Fiona McDonnell.
“We’ve voted for these people as representatives of the Footscray community and then they go and break their promise to us.”
FABA president Benny Binh Lee agreed.
“I’m not at all happy with the way they’re doing things.
“They say they are going to support us and then they don’t but I guess I have no say in what they decide,” he said.
Despite losing their battle against the machines, traders were hailing a minor victory after councillors agreed to consider establishing a multi-deck car park as a compromise.
The council also ruled revenue gained from the $1 per hour machines would be pumped back into the community, funding amenity and capital works improvements.
Mr Lee said he believed providing more free spaces would allay trader anger against indecisive councillors.
