More free parking sought for Palmerston North’s seniors

Palmerston North’s SuperGold cardholders are asking for another three hours of free parking in the central city every week day, and city councillors are close to agreeing.

City councillor Lew Findlay, acting as president of Grey Power Manawatū, put the case to the community committee, that the current three hours of free parking from 9am to noon should be extended to 3pm.

He said the cost of living for older people on fixed incomes had grown phenomenally in the past 12 months, and they were fighting to survive.

Findlay said extended free parking would help them access services such as doctors, dentists and opticians in the central city, and enable them to work as volunteers, to shop, to have lunch and see a movie without worrying about feeding the meter.

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He said when the scheme had been extended from two hours to three back in 2015, council staff had told councillors it would cost little or nothing to implement.

It would, however, mean a lot to older people, and had the support of businesses and several community groups.

His presentation was supported by Age Friendly Palmerston North members Russell and Ros Hallam who said it would remove a barrier to older people’s ability to participate fully in activities in the central city around lunchtime and into the early afternoon.

City councillor Billy Meehan was so convinced by the argument that he said the council should just do it.

He said it would not be a major cost, and was something councillors, who got free parking around the clock, could do to support people who might have been paying rates for more than 50 years.

But the majority of councillors voted to ask for a report on the implications.

Cr Pat Handcock said it would be remiss to jump into making a decision without knowing the costs and benefits, and Cr Kaydee Zabelin said she was not in favour of making a financial decision in the absence of financial information.

Cr Brent Barrett said whatever parking concessions were granted, he did not want to see rates having to go up to cover the costs.

Cr William Wood questioned why the group had not asked to have the whole day free, while Cr Karen Naylor asked whether community service cardholders and people with mobility issues should be considered for the concession as well.

Meehan said he was baffled by councillors trying to make something simple so complicated.

But apart from deputy mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb and Cr Leonie Hapeta, the majority of councillors wanted to see a report.

That was likely to come back to the committee in August to inform a decision.