More free parking for Tamworth CBD from today

After parking meters in Tamworth’s CBD nearing the end of their working life have failed repeatedly this year, Tamworth Regional Council has decided to take them out of service from today.

Tamworth Region Acting Mayor Jeff Budd said the move is a logical decision supported by Councillors.

“Staff have been doing their best to make their own fixes to meters to keep them going until June 30 when the card reading technology is due to stop working but instead we are taking them out of service a little earlier,” he said.

“It’s a small thing we can do for those drivers who have faced inconvenience from a malfunctioning meter over the last few months.”

The meters have been switched off and covered up, signalling to drivers they do not need to pay. However, time limits will still apply and drivers who overstay may face fines.

The obsolete meters will be removed in the coming months. 

The changes to parking in the CBD signal the start of implementation of the Tamworth Regional Parking Strategy which Councillors voted to adopt in February this year. It includes a range of changes to better meet the needs of drivers across the region including changing Council’s off-street all-day parking to free parking and introducing meter parking in Tamworth’s Peel Street between White and Bourke streets.

“It won’t be until later this year in spring that the new parking meters will be installed in Peel Street, so for the time being all Council parking spaces are free,” Councillor Budd said.

“There will be a closed report to Council in early July to award a tender for the meters and before they start to be installed later this year we will be making sure CBD businesses, workers and drivers know what is happening and when.”

From 1 July, Council will also be ensuring parking spaces in the car park adjoining Ray Walsh House (Fitzroy Street side) are used in line with the signage. Some spaces are marked for general use while some are only for Council staff who display a permit and some are for Council fleet vehicles.

Vehicles parking in the car park will have a flyer placed under their windscreen to advise them that the area will be monitored by parking officers from next month. Signs will also be placed in the carpark off Kable Avenue later this week.  

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