Council cited statistics showing no improvements to retail spending during free parking - Susan disagrees.
"They don't know what it would have been like if they hadn't had free parking. There's no definitive way to tell."
She says they do know there was a 42 per cent increase in Napier shoppers coming to Hastings.
"I see so much potential. For us it was the one thing the council had done to show they were committed to helping out."
Retailers were telling her free parking had made a "huge difference".
"It's not about the dollar - it's about letting people know they're welcome - we want them here."
She believes free parking put Hastings retailers on an even playing field with Big Box retailers and Havelock North.
"Why is it okay for Havelock North? We want the same deal as them. It was a boost to business. Now they've taken away free parking at the quietest time of year. It's already made an impact."
A letter was sent out by council to all retailers to gauge opinions before free parking was axed. Susan says it was "very confusing" and included Havelock North retailers "when it didn't affect them". She says free parking won't be back.
"It's gone. They keep saying they have a strategy - we'll see. It did work so well for the retailers - we're back to square one."
Grieve Diamond Jewellers owner James Griffiths echoes Susan's sentiments. "This month's been shocking. During free parking we had an 8 per cent increase in sales. If we didn't get that, we would have gone backwards."
He says it comes down to whether the council wants to invest in the Hastings CBD or not.
"The council is weak. They say Hastings is the heart of Hawke's Bay. Maybe we should change that to 'Hastings - the council who achieves nothing'."
He believes people are not against free parking but against having to pay for it in their rates.
"Did any councillors get out there and speak to the people in the streets? There are a lot of businesses in Hastings reinvesting in their own stores but not seeing the support of council."
Business owners Adrian Thornton and Siobhan McCormack from Little Red Book Shop agree.
"This council is negligent - there's no forward planning. There's no thought whatsoever to the structure of retail and we all suffer. This is hard work."