Perth Voice Interactive

HIGHER parking fines and paid parking are Bayswater’s new year gifts for motorists.

A draft of the council’s new parking policy reveals many fines will skyrocket from $50 to $80 or $85, including fines issued for parking on median strips or failure to park wholly within a parking area.

Hefty $150 fines will be meted out for certain offences, including parking on a reserve, stopping in a clearway and stopping within continuous yellow lines.

Residential parking permits and paid parking stalls are also being introduced.

Earlier this year Cr Alan Radford said paid parking in Bayswater was inevitable: “I think it will benefit certain areas and improve access,” he said.

“For instance, in and around Bayswater railway stations and the Galleria people come from out of the city and park there all day on council-owned land.

“Meters would free up bays and enable people to park there for an hour or so and use the local shops.

“Also, if we want to build multi-storey car parks we need the funds to build them.”

The new parking policy will be advertised for public comment for six weeks.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK