Park goers are fed up with drivers leaving cars parked in front of other vehicles in Victoria Park car park in downtown Auckland.
Boot camp owner Raphael Victoria runs morning fitness classes in the park and comes across drivers parked badly each morning.
People using the facilities at Victoria Park say they have been blocked in by other drivers, some of who don’t return until the end of the working day. (Source: Breakfast)
“Any day of the week, you can come and see six to eight cars right in the middle, with phone number notes on the windscreen where you can ring them and hope they come and move the cars for you.”
Victoria told Breakfast on Friday morning some drivers arrive at 4am and leave their cars parked until 5pm.
The spaces in the Victoria Park car park are free for 180 minutes, allowing drivers to park near the skate park, basketball courts and playing fields.
Cars have been spotted parking on the grass and yellow lines when the car park is full.
“Once [drivers] realised council doesn’t ticket or do anything about it, it started getting worse. People started abandoning the cars right in the middle.”
Victoria said tow trucks have been contacted in the past, and some drivers have even contacted the police when they have been unable to leave the car park.
“It’s been about two to three years with multiple complaints from members, people who play cricket here, skateboarders.”
Victoria has logged complaints with Auckland Council, which says they are aware of the situation.
“I see council people here probably once a month at best.”
Victoria says there was one busy week where many people were calling tow trucks. After that week, wardens were seen twice a week, for two or three weeks, then they "disappeared".
Breakfast approached Auckland Transport for comment.
They have confirmed that they own the car park and will be providing further details on monitoring vehicles to Breakfast in the coming days.
By Breakfast's Nikki Smith
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