Motorists are making the most of free parking in Hinemoa St. Photo / File
Changes to Rotorua's popular free downtown parking scheme could be in the wind with the Rotorua District Council asking residents for their thoughts on time-limit changes.
The council is this month asking Rotorua residents to submit feedback on the initiative, introduced to the city in December last year for an 18-month trial.
The council wants to know if the 120-minute limit is too long in some places and if people want to see any other changes.
In July a story in the Rotorua Daily Post revealed the free 120-minute parking trial covering most of the central city was working well, but some workers were taking advantage of it to the detriment of their, and other businesses', customers.
Business owners said it was bringing people back into the central city and they had noticed a marked increase in foot and vehicle traffic around the city.
Inner City Focus Group member and local retailer Ron Finn said some retailers were suggesting traffic movement would be further improved if the free parking period were reduced.
He said a shorter period of free parking, before cars were required to move on, could result in better turnover of parking spaces.
That would lead to more spaces being freed up for customers. "We're keen to see if shoppers and other regular visitors to the central city agree, and if that proves to be the case we'll be recommending to the council they look at reducing the free parking time currently on offer.
"I'd personally like to see the free parking time reduced to 60 minutes on Tutanekai St and to 90 minutes on side streets.
"However, nothing's finalised yet as we're interested in hearing what others think," Mr Finn said.
In assessing the optimum free parking period for the inner-city area the council will also take into account data on parking space occupancy levels from sensor units installed in parking spaces - such as vehicle turnover rates and average lengths of stay.
The average stay in the free 120-minute parking area is about 43 minutes.
*To have your say on anything to do with parking in the central city, visit the council's website www.rdc.govt.nz and click on the "Inner City Surveys" box on the homepage.
What do you think?
Email editor@dailypost.co.nz, write a letter to PO Box 1442, Rotorua or text DP (message) to 021 242 4568.
Concern grows for Hayden Kemp, 40, last seen in Rerewhakaaitu on Friday.