Parking fight: Yarraville fruit store considering closure, lay offs

A Yarraville trader says he needs to lay off staff and could be forced to shut down completely if the council persists with its controversial new parking meters.

Dominic’s Fruit owner Mustafa Elhaouli told 3AW Mornings business was down 30-40 per cent since paid parking was introduced to Anderson St.

He’s not alone, with most businesses in the area vehemently opposed to the meters, which have been vandalised in recent weeks.

So strange and sad to see so many empty car parks at this hour in the middle of #Yarraville. pic.twitter.com/HL3svD7NKP

? Matt Cram (@crammj) September 17, 2015

Mr Elhaouli employs six people, but he said he will be forced to lay off some staff.

‘I have to. I have to do it,’ he told 3AW Mornings.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to manage to pay the bills and the workers and the rates.

‘The customers have all run away from Yarraville to Footscray and Seddon. No one wants to pay (the parking).

‘If (City of Maribyrnong) want to stay like that we can’t manage to stay here. Maybe we’ll close down or break the lease.’

Mr Elhaouli said he will have to make a decision in the next two months.

‘The council are very stupid; I’m sorry, but I have to say that,’ he told Tony Jones.