Yarraville parking meters left damaged
UPDATE: Yarraville traders say paid parking meters are so bad for business shops in the village may be forced to close.
It comes after the street war with Maribyrnong Council escalated overnight, as a number of the parking meters were vandalised and smashed in.
Corner Shop owner Iain Munro told Neil Mitchell the installation of the meters was making business unsustainable.
‘There’s extended periods of time where there’s practically nobody,’ he said.
‘It has absolutely affected business, usually we’d be fairly full from 8am all the way through the morning, and then lunch and also after school pick up.
‘(It’s) nearly non-existent.’
Listen: Maribyrnong Mayor on 3AW Mornings ‘disappointed’ over vandalism
The council rolled out parking meters in the western suburb earlier this month despite strong protests from locals and traders.
As this photo above proves, the parking meters aren’t a welcome addition.
3AW Mornings revealed glue was pumped into the meters a few days ago.
Megan Darling from the Facebook page Yarraville Village Says No to Paid Parking told Neil Mitchell they were appalled someone had resulted to criminal damage to get the message across.
‘It’s the anger on the streets…you can feel it in the air,’ she said.
‘There are no cars on the streets, people are amazed at our ghost town.
‘The anger has turned into outright criminal vandalism.’
Maribyrnong Mayor Nam Quach denied business was suffering, and said it was ‘alarmist’ to say traders would have to close their shops.
‘Like all changes it’s normal to have those concerns, apprehensions,’ he said.
‘The intent is to help the turn over of car parking spaces.’
Listen: Megan Darling on 3AW Mornings