Mobility impaired senior citizens are being forced to park up to a kilometre away from their Grant Street hall because all-day parkers are taking up their car parking spaces.
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Maitland Senior Citizens member Graham Dark and Maitland Councillor Henry Meskauskas said some of the group’s members have resorted to returning home on days they cannot find a parking spot.
Cr Meskauskas and Mr Dark have called on members of the public using the car park behind Maitland Town Hall to show some consideration for the elderly.
They are also asking people to leave car parks surrounding the senior citizens hall and those parks specifically designated for the elderly, vacant.
“People need to show a bit more compassion,” Cr Meskauskas said.
“Council employees, students and teachers from nearby schools have the car park full most days forcing senior citizens to park in side streets, some having to walk up to a kilometre to the hall,” he said.
Mr Dark said most of the members have mobility problems and need parking directly near the hall.
“It’s a combination of council workers, students and teachers from a nearby school and visitors to the art gallery who are taking the spots,” he said.
“A lot of our members are being forced to leave if they can’t find a park or drive around the narrow side streets and then walk to the hall.”
Mr Dark has suggested a decked car park for the rear of Maitland Town Hall to cope with the growing number of workers, students and teachers who need to part on the city’s east end.
Cr Meskauskas has been critical about the city’s lack of car parking for several years, particulary closer to the city centre.
Car parking was also an election pledge made by former mayoral candidate Cr Philip Penfold who campaigned for a decked car park between Elgin and Church streets.
Cr Penfold said he would call for an urgent report into Central Business District parking, including consideration of a multi-storey parking station in Elgin Street, if he was elected to mayor or re-elected as a councillor.
Cr Penfold was re-elected to the council at the September 9 local government election as a councillor.
Cr Meskauskas said the all-day parkers near the seniors hall showed no consideration for the elderly.
“Unless the seniors get there at day break they have no chance of getting a park,” he said.
He will push for council to provide more designated car parking spaces for seniors around the hall and Mr Dark said he would be raising the issue at this week’s Maitland Senior Citizens meeting.