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Janine Rankin16:21, Jun 28 2021
DAVID UNWIN/Stuff
Plans to charge for more hours of parking have been put on hold.
Motorists in Palmerston North will get at least one week’s respite from the proposed increases in parking meter hours. The city council had planned to put charges up and introduce new hours for paid parking from July 1, doing away with free parking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and abolishing free parking on Sundays. However, mayor Grant Smith has lodged a notice of motion asking councillors to vote on a pause in proceedings for four to six weeks to consult businesses and the public.
“Our city is growing fast, and we need to be able to move our residents, visitors and freight around our city easily and safely. This contract is paramount to that objective and road users experiences.” She said Higgins has been its contractor for the past 10 years, and other large periods over recent decades. The council would continue to work with Higgins on a range of capital investment projects. Three companies tendered for the contract. All had local depots and employed large numbers of local staff. Key requirements of the contract included an improved level of service for residents and ratepayers; and greater efficiency and improved coordination of the services.