The introduction of full-time officers to enforce timed parking in High Street is the only way to improve the parking situation, according to John Lee.
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Mr Lee has operated his business on High Street at Maitland, between Church and Elgin streets, for the past six years.
He believes traffic congestion in the area is caused by workers who park their cars in one-hour parking bays about 8.30am and leave them there for the rest of the day, making it almost impossible for shoppers to find a park.
Mr Lee said the situation had a negative impact on business.
“Our customers have nowhere to park,” he said.
“They have to do a continuous loop, they go round and round hoping to get a park.
“Some people aren’t going to do that though.
“People tell me they have to walk all the way up from the Kmart car park or further or circle the block.”
Maitland City Council development and environment manager David Simm said residents who saw vehicles breaching restricted parking zones could report them to council.
“Parking restrictions exist in this area,” he said.
“Council rangers patrol restricted parking areas on a regular basis and have the authority to distribute parking tickets to vehicles that breached those restrictions.”
Mr Lee said he expected the problem to get worse if a solution wasn’t found.
“Obviously when work on the mall is finished we’re going to expect more traffic,” he said.
“Parking is going to become even more of an issue than it is now.”
