Time limit set for dairy's car park

The car park outside the Kia Ora dairy in Featherston may soon have a 10 minute time limit on it.

It would be the only time-restricted park on the main street of the town.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, South Wairarapa District councillors moved to create a time restriction on the parking spot.

Last year the owners of the dairy asked the council to put the limit on the park so it would be free for dairy customers to pop in and out.

Nilan Patel, who owns the dairy with her husband, said they are keen to see the parking space created.

She said customers often wanted to stop and pick up something in a hurry, but people going to other shops park there for 2-3 hours.

"This is quite a popular dairy.

"It will be good for the business, as before our customers would have to park far away."

Paul Crimp, the council's CEO, said the 10 minute park will be "self-policing".

"If there are users who regularly flout the time limit, and we receive complaints, we would work with them to make sure they understand the nature of the limit and why it is there."

There are currently no parking wardens or parking meters in Featherston.

The council considered it a reasonable request by Mr and Mrs Patel, as it would help their business and not impact on other business.

"We do know that those dairies rely on passing traffic," said South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples.

She said the parking spot had been a long time coming.

Mr Crimp said this is because the council had to wait until the current set of bylaws was adopted.

The council's traffic bylaw would have to be amended to put the limit on the one-car park.

It would not mean people would have to shop at the dairy.