Free parking trial starts with a hiss and a roar

The free parking trial has started off with a hiss and a roar, with by far the vast majority of comments on Hastings District Council’s Facebook page backing the initiative.

Stories on the new coin-free parking had reached more than 10,000 people by yesterday (Nov 3).

The central city free parking was heralded with pink balloons tied to the parking meters.

There was an important message behind the pretty balloons though, said councilor Sandra Hazlehurst.

“One of the things we discovered while researching this was that other councils had received some flak from not having a simple system and a clear and loud message.

“We took that on board and have made the system as easy to understand as possible – ‘you don’t have to pay but there is a time limit’ – and making the messaging so bright you can’t miss it.”

“Awesome” and “fantastic” were the most used adjective applied to the trial by members of the public on social media.

The one concern expressed however, was by workers who had previously paid for all-day parking in the council car parks. Without being able to pay, that was no longer an option – but council does have alternatives to offer those people.

Leasing a car park is likely to be the best option, and cheaper than the previous all day parking cost of $4.

Leasing a car park in the Market Street car park, on the corner of Market and Eastbourne Streets, is $80 including GST per calendar month. This works out at about $3.64 a working day, says council’s parking manager Kevin Deacon.

Leasing can be arranged by phoning council’s main phone number: 871 5000.

Another option is the four hour parking spaces in Russell St South (Women’s Rest block), Queen St (Karamu Road through to Warren St) and Karamu Road (Avenue Road through to St Aubyn St). This means shifting your vehicle in the lunch hour.

As always there is free all day parking in the outer city streets.

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