At times, parking in the CBDs of Cootamundra and Gundagai is at a premium, and motorists and business owners are being urged to show respect and courtesy to all and adhere to parking time limits. Photo: Matt Beaver.
Cootamundra and Gundagai business owners are demanding action over vehicles being parked for extended periods outside their premises.
The traders have strongly criticised fellow business owners and staff who are flouting the parking rules and causing a loss of custom.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) said the affected business owners in both towns had requested action to free up parking spaces outside their stores in the main shopping precincts.
CGRC regional services managers in Cootamundra and Gundagai, Wayne Bennett and Greg Ewings, are reluctant to issue fines, but the council can pursue this option if repeat warnings are ignored.
The council is urging business owners and motorists to be considerate and adhere to the signed parking limit times.
“The council does not want to start issuing fines,” Mr Bennett said. “This is more about making people aware that long-term parking outside businesses on our main streets costs those businesses potential income. If people can’t get a parking spot close to where they want to shop, they will just drive on.
“Our communities have an ageing population and people with disabilities and we need to be very aware that ease of parking to venues they want to visit is extremely important.
“The complaints council are receiving come from the business owners, who appear to be disappointed that fellow business owners and their employees are parking for much of the day out the front of their shops.”
Mr Bennett said the actions of business owners and employees parking in front of shops not only caused friction among the business community but were also a disservice to the patrons of the shops affected.
“Council urges all shop and business owners to review their parking practices and, if possible, park at the rear of your premises or in an area that is clearly marked for longer-term parking,” he said.
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