Long time business operator John Lee is fed up trying to get council officers into The Levee to see first hand how the parking situation is affecting traders.

He said each time he asks for an on site meeting, he is shut down and told the matter will be discussed at a meeting next Tuesday.

"Traders want to show council officers first hand what is wrong with the place before this meeting," Mr Lee said. 

"There is also the half hour parking limit that has shoppers scared to park in The Levee.

"I went to 26 owner-operated businesses and everyone of them has serious concerns about how parking is affecting them. 

"Many said they just traded through the worst January ever experienced - 10 stores in The Levee have closed and six on the fringes have also shut."

Council’s Group Manager Infrastructure and Works, Chris James said the consultation process for the development of a Central Maitland Parking Study has a focus on traders in the precinct, including a workshop on Tuesday night where business owners and managers will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback directly to consultants developing the study.

Mr Lee also asked where Maitland Business Chamber was "in all this". 

"The chamber isn't representing us," he said. 

But business chamber president Matthew Bardwell said the issue is on the chamber's radar. 

"This is a top issue on the our agenda and we are meeting with council and our wider executive committee shortly to discuss the matter," he said.

"We haven’t had any of our members reach out to complain about the issue, but we want to have a full understanding of council's plan before commenting further."

Mr Lee said the city has known for 10 years there has been a parking problem.

"Remove the gardens and the seats which are never used and there would be another 10 parks," he said.

"I know council and people will say there's plenty of room on the top deck of the Kmart car park, but that is a security issue with no lighting and no shade. 

"People just don't want to park there. Cars are vandalised or broken into," he said.

"All we are asking is that council officers and councillors come and take a look first hand. Come and talk to us. Have a walk through and see what the shoppers have to say.

"You go down to council and they're surrounded by carparking places … it's not a problem for them down there.

"But here in The Levee it is.

"I've had people tell me they do two laps of The Levee, can't find a park and then head to Green Hills. 

"They're also saying they don't want to park in The Levee because they don't want to get booked."

The Mercury reported last week how council has engaged consultants to undertake a parking study to “understand the overall position on parking in Central Maitland and identify future opportunities.

It also reported how Levee traders said their businesses are under serious threat of viability. They blame Maitland City Council for its "disregard for the city’s car parking crisis."

Traders contacted The Mercury to vent their frustrations about dwindling trade, illegal tradie parking and council’s inaction to remedy the situation.