Tickets spark one-man parking protest

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Whai Walker, of Rockside Rd, in Dunedin, talks to neighbour and driver of the 4WD Jeff Huuskes, as he tries to negotiate a way past Mr Walker's two legally parked cars. Photo by Linda Robertson

So incensed over being issued his second $40 parking infringement in a month outside his Rockside Rd home, Whai Walker (58) has decided to take matters into his own hands.

Earlier this month, Mr Walker parked his car the wrong way on the street and was promptly issued with a $40 fine from a Dunedin City Council parking warden.

"That was a fair call, I can understand that ticket."

However the full-time taxi driver said he was "disgusted" to be issued with another $40 ticket for parking his car on edge of the kerb outside the house.

Mr Walker said it was common practice for people to park on the kerb of the narrow road, which was popular because of its proximity to the Ross Creek Reservoir.

"We have to give people room otherwise it is too narrow for them."

Parking on the kerb allowed vehicles ample room to negotiate the road, and prams and mobility scooters could still use the footpath, he said.

"So what's the problem?"

Mr Walker said while he had paid his first ticket he refused to pay the second, and to illustrate his plight has begun parking his two cars legally on either side of the road.

"It proves my point that if two cars are parked properly there is barely any room to move."

The parked cars left less than 50cm either side of a standard-size vehicle to negotiate the road and could pose difficulties for some drivers, Mr Walker said.

"In my job I see bad parking all the time, but this is just common sense . . . I think the parking officers need to stop being so pedantic."

Mr Walker said he would continue his parking protest until a solution with council was reached.

DCC senior traffic manager Bruce Conaghan said council would assess the parking situation if a request was made, and would be taking the whole road into account rather than the requirements of individual householders.

"The reality is it is a public space."

Some Dunedin streets had approval by council for cars to park two wheels on footpaths, but "it is not council's business to provide households with parking".

hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz [2]