`No' to centre-road parking By JULIE McNAMARA May 16, 2005 Warnambool Standard
`No' to centre-road parking
By JULIE McNAMARA
May 16, 2005
ALMOST 80 per cent of Warrnambool shoppers are against additional centre-of-the-road parking in the CBD, a new survey has revealed.
Conducted by traders' group CBD Warrnambool, the survey also found that 10 per cent of people were against the ``principle' of paid parking.
A total of 112 shoppers completed the questionnaire, which was carried out as a way to review the impact of metered parking on the CBD. The survey was the first of its kind in the city.
CBD Warrnambool group co-ordinator Ali Slorach said results of the survey were overwhelmingly positive with people regarding the CBD as a one-stop shop for business, shopping and eating. Paid parking had made that more accessible, she said.
The group was to meet with the city council to discuss the results this month, Mrs Slorach said.
"It's really positive because it's saying that parking which we thought could have been a problem hasn't affected why people shop in the town and why people are coming here is because of the variety of shops on offer.'
Mrs Slorach said the group would inform council of the results at a meeting in coming weeks. It was hoped the council could incorporate the results into its decision-making about future parking plans.
The survey found 79 per cent of people were against additional centre-of-the-road parking.
A quarter of the respondents said off-street parking had influenced whether they would visit the CBD or not. Mrs Slorach said she believed it probably motivated most people because they knew they could find a park.
Ten per cent of those surveyed said they didn't like metered parking on principle, but it didn't stop them from visiting the CBD. Just five per cent of people identified the cost of metered parking as being an issue for them. A third of the shoppers surveyed said they visited the CBD daily while almost 80 per cent visited at least weekly.
The variety of shopping was the prime attraction of the CBD for 76 per cent of respondents while 81 per cent of people surveyed also shopped at Gateway Plaza but not as often as the CBD.
Customer service was rated as good or outstanding by 65 per cent of those surveyed with the levels of customer service rated highest among people aged 40 or above.
The survey also found there wasn't a strong push to extend trading hours among respondents.
Mrs Slorach said the survey was carried out on a Tuesday in March but that it needed to be replicated on weekends and evenings to determine whether a different customer profile was evident and whether their shopping attitudes varied.
A council spokeswoman said the results of the survey would be assessed alongside the council's street survey which focused on improving safety and was completed in March.
The spokeswoman was unable to confirm whether council had plans for more centre-of-the-road parking to be introduced in the city.