Shoppers say no to paid parking

SHOPPERS at Davenport Square have given any thoughts that centre management may have about paid parking at the centre a resounding no vote.

Centre management confirmed that it is currently surveying the feasibility of installing booms and charging for parking in order to manage the limited number of parking bays available for shoppers at the centre.

When Berea Mail posted on its Facebook page asking shoppers what they thought, there was general consensus that paid parking was not supported by shoppers.

Only one person felt that the move would possibly ease congestion.”Maybe it will ease the congestion? I avoid that centre because the parking is a nightmare,” said Claire Knoechl in her post.

Heather Rorick said she felt shoppers would refuse to pay for the parking inside which would cause chaos with shoppers choosing to rather park on the roadside.

“As it is the parking at Davenport is a nightmare on busy days as there is not enough parking as it is. Davenport Square needs to rather fill the empty shops that have been standing empty since the renovation. To now chase away their customers would see a lot of shops having to close their businesses. To pay to use the toilet I understand, as people were stealing the toilet roll holders/toilet rolls and the toilets were been vandalized. However, maybe R2 is steep as we have a lot of pensioners who regularly shop at Davenport,” she said.

Patricia Wight said she would rather go to the Pavilion and do her shopping there if Davenport was going to charge for parking. She said Pavilion offered more variety. Natasha van Rensburg agreed, and said she would definitely not be happy and would rather shop at a bigger mall.

Carl Beneke posted that he would stop going to Davenport if he was charged for parking and Cheryl Sacks said it was bad enough that people had to pay for the toilet, she would also stop going to Davenport if they charged for parking as well.

Vonita Jagga posted she wouldn’t be happy and Tracy Hunter said: “We pay the car guards as it is. Pay for the use of the toilets, what next?

Graham Kirk posted that he would refuse to pay for parking and Ulandi Potgieter said she would not be happy.

“As it is they are charging R2 to use the public toilet and Queenmead Mall is only R1. We love shopping at Davenport Centre, but if they start charging they will chase people away,” she said.

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