Parking Dilemma A Disaster

Madam – Shoppers and businesses in the Newcastle CBD are left totally in the dark as to when the parking meter system will be reintroduced. Promises upon promises have been made by the council but to no avail. Many years have gone by and still no response whatsoever from the authorities.

The absence of parking meters in the CBD has been detrimental mainly for traders in the busiest parts of town (Allen Street and Scott Street etc.), resulting in financial losses to the businesses, and also closure of some traders that were forced to lose their livelihood and inable to find work or any alternative income to support their families.

Shoppers in Newcastle alone have been deprived of an opportunity to shop whenever and wherever they please in the time available to them. This matter has been ignored totally by the authorities in question.

The businesses in Newcastle contribute substantially to the municipal coffers and therefore they deserve to be treated fairly. The municipality are also losers if business are adversely affected, and the CBD deprived of the patrons who are forced to look for alternative locations or towns to do their shopping.

The business community in Newcastle is pleading earnestly to solve the problem within the CBD.

With respect, we urge whoever is responsible to treat this matter with the utmost respect it deserves.

Concerned Traders