Key Research senior research executive Stacey Linton presented the findings of the council-funded survey, while Te Puke retailer Murray Holyoake spoke on the findings of an independent survey funded by a group of Te Puke businesses.
Among the key findings of the Key research survey was that the town is now more pedestrian friendly and it is easier to cross the road, but that the availability of carparks and the ease of traffic flow has become worse. Cyclist safety was also thought to be worse since the upgrade works.
There was also a feeling among almost half of business owners surveyed that the time it took to travel through the town had become longer.
One strong message was that people would visit the town more often if there were more or better shops.
Mayor Garry Webber said that while it was within the council's power to do something about parking issues, it didn't have an influence on the mix and type of shops retailers chose to establish.
Mr Holyoake, owner of Xcetera, said a number of business owners had chosen to commission their own survey.
"[They] communicated their concerns between each other about the adverse effect the upgrade had caused to revenue and customer satisfaction," he said.
He said the upgrade had led to the formation of two factions - those who felt that the ends justified the means and those who were suffering the adverse effects, who had become "collateral damage".
The independent survey found that 70 per cent of businesses had received complaints from customers about access and parking.
He said there were retailers who were suffering losses of between 20 and 30 per cent when compared to the same time last year.
Mr Holyoake said retailers wanted to see, among other things, where practicable and with the least possible disruption, parking on the main street restored, and for additional parking spaces to be created on Queens St.
The findings of the surveys are to presented to the community on August 29. Mr Webber said it needed to be a constructive meeting. "We want to do the best thing for Te Puke," he said.
After the meeting, Mr Holyoake said he was pleased that there were findings in the Key Research survey that backed up the issues the retailers had raised, and he was very encouraged by the mayor's comments.