Within an hour of the Otago Daily Times putting the concerns of disabled people, about the new parking regime, to council officers, they had admitted their oversight and put a new policy in place.
CCS Disability Action regional manager Paul Martin was thrilled with the news people who had mobility parking permits could now park for one hour free on any four-hour metered park in the city.
"That is really excellent. I am really delighted the council have made that decision."
There are 3000 mobility parking permit holders in Otago, and the council also recognises mobility parking permits from other regions.
Under the old parking system, people with a mobility parking permit could park for one hour longer than the posted time on free P30, P60 or P120 parks, or if they paid for the maximum parking time on a metered park, they could stay an additional hour free.
The free hour allowed for the fact it could take a disabled person longer to get in and out of their car, and to get to and from where they were going.
Under the new system, all P30, P60 and P120 parks have been abolished and all metered parks, except for some near the hospital, are four-hour maximum.
Before yesterday's policy change, this would have meant a person with a mobility parking permit would have had to pay the full $12 for four hours to get the extra hour of free parking, whereas previously most metered parks close to the city centre had been one or two-hour maximum parks.
Immediately after a press conference about parking issues yesterday afternoon, at which the ODT asked about the concerns of disabled people, council general manager city life Tony Avery said the council had changed its policy.
People with mobility parking permits can now park on any four-hour metered park for one hour free, without paying any parking charges.
If they intend to park for longer than one hour they must pay for the extra time up to the four-hour maximum.
Finding a free park in Dunedin for five minutes has been made easier under the new regime, with the Dunedin City Council clarifying the rules, and how they operate.
Pay and display meters
Parking officers cannot give fines immediately, but must mark a car's tyre, and not return for five minutes before writing a ticket.
Loading zones
Any loading zone can be used by any vehicle involved in a trade, including a private vehicle being used in a pick-up or drop-off. This means loading zones are effectively P5 zones.
Couriers
If a loading zone is full, use a pay and display zone free for five minutes (see above).
