A clearway with no vision, says businesses

It was meant to improve traffic flow along Victoria Rd, but a recent proposal by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is attracting criticism from several quarters.

The proposal seeks to install 24-hour clearways along Victoria Rd, between The Crescent and Iron Cove Bridge.  Current clearways along this road only apply during the morning and afternoon periods on weekdays.

The new system would see clearways in effect all day including weekends.

The RMS claimed that weekend traffic is currently inconvenienced by cars parked along this strip.

The state body anticipates that 44 parking spots will be removed, and initiated what was originally a two-week consultation period concluding on Friday, December 23.

The Leichhardt Municipal Council and local businesses have responded to this policy with vehement criticism.

In a press release, Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous said the policy was “a real slap in the face to local businesses”.

The Council is concerned about the commercial impact of losing the 44 parking spots.

In addition, Cr Porteous attacked the consultation process for being too short.

She criticised its timing as unreasonable, claiming the Christmas rush is the busiest period of their year for businesses.

A Leichhardt Council spokesperson said: “two weeks before Christmas isn’t taking your consultation process seriously.”

The Inner West Independent can reveal that, in response to such criticism, RMS will extend the consultation period until February 3, 2012.

But shop owners along the road will not give the plan their support. Manager of RNA Furniture, Annie Lee, said that “parking is already terrible”.

She said her customers already complain about the current situation and that her own staff often cannot find nearby parking.

The manager said it was difficult to respond during the consultation period given the peak holiday season.

Arman Jalili, owner of Persian Rug Bazaar, is equally against the current plan.

Mr Jalili said parking “is the most important problem we have” and often needs to park at the local church in order to unload his rugs.

He expects the new policy will affect customer numbers.

Store manager of Adore Pharmacy, Chadi Tahan wants to know what the RMS is “trying to do to our business.”

Mr Tahan accepted the current clearway system but questioned the need for clearways at 11 pm and midnight.

He said many of his customers are ill and need to park nearby. He said the proposed clearway plan would be “bad for us and bad for them.”

Mr Tahan said he wondered whether the RMS was “in bed” with shopping centres since the plan could steer drivers away from roadside shops to shopping malls for more available parking.

By Dominic Dietrich