Ponsonby locals and visitors have been left fuming over Auckland Transport’s new proposals for parking changes in the area.
Three main proposals have been put forward by Auckland Transport (AT), which are introducing paid parking on streets near Ponsonby Rd, extending paid parking into the evenings from Thursday to Saturday, and extending the current resident parking zone to include Kelmarna Ave and Buller St.
AT said the key reason for the changes is to meet high demand for on-street parking during the day and evening.
People have expressed frustration over the plan, with some fearing it could impact business.
One person told the Herald the proposals were “a load of nonsense” and claimed the plan would discourage them from visiting the area.
One restaurant owner, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald they found the decision “frustrating” and “disappointing”.
“The majority of people park nearby and there’s no dedicated parking spaces outside [the restaurant].”
They felt that if these changes were to come into effect it could impact the number of people who visit the business.
However, some were supportive of the proposals and felt change was needed to help those driving in the area.
“I think they’re going to have to do something because getting car parks around here is really, really difficult, so charging would help monitor or regulate it,” one Ponsonby visitor said.
Other proposals from AT for Ponsonby included introducing specific parking spaces for e-scooters and 10-minute pick-up and drop-off spaces for meal delivery drivers.
“Around 20,000 vehicles travel along Ponsonby Rd every day and many drivers are also looking to park on the road, or as close to it as possible, including during the evening,” AT’s group manager of transport network, planning and policy Andrew McGill said.
“There are more than 60 businesses along Ponsonby Rd that are open in the evening too and I’m sure their owners would appreciate more parking spaces for their customers.”
More than 12,000 parking infringements have been issued on Ponsonby Rd so far this year and it is consistently in the top three roads in Auckland for parking infringements, while numbers for adjacent residential streets are starting to rise.
“This tells us timed and paid parking spaces are not being used fairly,” AT’s head of transport, parking and compliance Rick Bidgood said.
“Parking is not only about staying, but also about moving people and goods fairly.
“Let’s be community-wise, respect that others may want to use the space as well.”
