A decision by Owen Sound Council to nix free parking downtown for the three weeks leading up to Christmas has resulted in howls of protest from some listeners to Bayshore Broadcasting News.
A majority of callers to the CFOS Open Line say that Council made the wrong decision by not allowing free parking in parking lots and on the streets off of 2nd Avenue East that are now metered.
Two blocks of 2nd Avenue East between 10th Street and 8th Street are now meter free with a two hour limit.
They say the loss of revenue from paid parking is a drop in the bucket compared to the economic stimulus free parking would provide to downtown merchants.
One caller suggested stated that Christmas is a make or break season for a lot of business owners and the loss of several businesses would cost the city more in the long run that the 30 thousand dollars in lost parking revenue.
Another caller stated it is very inconvenient for seniors to walk all the way back to a parking lot from the other end of main street to feed a meter.
One caller stated the whole issue of paid parking has resulted in him not even bothering shopping in downtown Owen Sound.
A total of 11 people called to comment on the City Council decision — with 10 of them saying it was the wrong move.