Community workers based at Dunedin Community House in Moray Pl are fed up with the inconsiderate behaviour of some Dunedin motorists and pedestrians in their leased central-city car park.
A constant stream of interlopers - both in cars and on foot - come and go at the private leased car park, which is at the rear of the Community House building, with entrances on both Moray Pl and Great King St. Both are causing concern and frustration for the many community organisations at work in the building.
The situation was highlighted last Tuesday evening, January 20, when Council of Social Services (COSS) Dunedin Community Support consultant Rob Tigeir's car was dented by a vehicle that was using the park without authorisation.
Mr Tigeir told The Star it appeared the car's door had been crashed into his vehicle with ''incredible force'', leaving a sizeable dent.
The driver left without leaving a note, leaving Mr Tigeir frustrated and facing the inconvenience of having to get the damage repaired.
''The dent was clearly made by a car door - it looks to me like it was deliberately done,'' he said.
''It's frustrating, and it's a symptom of the number of people who feel a sense of entitlement that they can use this car park - even though it is private, leased land.''
Dunedin Community House committee chairwoman Shirley Woodrow, of the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service, said the car park had 22 parks, all of which were leased on a 24-hour basis by the community organisations housed in the building. Many of the parks were used by field workers, who came and went at different times during the day and often returned to find their parks occupied by unauthorised vehicles.
''This puts us in the position of having to go out and try to remonstrate with people, which can be very unpleasant,'' Mrs Woodrow said.
''We cop a lot of verbal abuse - the attitude of some people is astonishing.''
In an attempt to alleviate the problem, the Community House committee has resorted to contracting Wilson Parking to monitor the car park - meaning people without permits could receive a fine of up to $65.
The other problem encountered by staff in the car park was the sheer volume of pedestrians who pass through on their way between Moray Pl and Great King St. During a half-hour visit on Friday, The Star observed dozens of people crossing the car park on foot.
COSS Dunedin executive officer Alan Shanks said there had been many near misses over the years as people tried to back out of their parks and pedestrians walked behind them.
''Pedestrians need to take more care and be aware of what the cars are doing,'' Mr Shanks said.
It would be much better if people made the effort to stick to the footpath instead of crossing the car park, he said.
- by Brenda Harwood
