Parking restrictions are unnecessary in Cromwell and policing them would be a waste of money, a community board member says.
''I struggle to see where this has come from,'' Gordon Stewart told the Cromwell Community Board this week, during a discussion on car-parking restrictions for the town to be included in the Central Otago roading bylaw.
''It's unnecessary; the idea of spending $10,000 a year for someone to come and police it is a complete waste. I've not struck any demand for it,'' he said.
The report to the board from Central Otago community road safety adviser Jo Robinson listed the car parks in the town centre and suggested some areas be all-day parks, while others would be restricted to three-hour parking, 30-minute parking or 10-minute parking.
The restrictions would be included in the draft roading bylaw, which will be open for public submission and then considered by the Central Otago District Council next year.
No decision has been made yet on policing the restrictions.
Mr Stewart said there was ''no demand'' for the limits on parking and, aside from the Christmas and New Year holidays peak time, there were no pressures on parking in the town.
''Next thing there'll be traffic lights and a parking warden, something Cromwell doesn't need.''
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said he got feedback from the public about Alexandra parking and often received comments about ''signwritten [business] cars hogging car parks'' in the town centre.
The Cromwell board adopted the report. Mr Stewart was the only member to vote against it.
