Traffic changes at Ramsgate Beach Plaza called a complete mess

Pat Bugden has lived in Monterey for more than 40 years and has shopped at the plaza for most of that.

He said front to kerb parking signs were installed recently without notice to business owners or customers.

‘’It’s just been a mess,’’ he said.

‘’We were confused and we’ve shopped here for years. You don’t look at signs when you’ve shopped here for so long.

‘’They’ve taken advantage of the situation without giving people appropriate notice.’’

His wife was booked for parking rear to kerb soon after the signs were installed and has vowed not to shop there again.

That mistake cost her a $108 fine.

He said that that the new traffic flow meant the entries and exits weren’t clear and people were regularly using the wrong exits.

When the Leader visited Ramsgate Beach Plaza on Thursday the confusion was obvious. Numerous cars were seen exiting using the entry and several cars were parked rear to kerb.

Business owners say they are also doing it tough.

Terry Metters owns By the Bay Meats.

He said he was forced out of retirement and had to fire a butcher because of a steep decline in business since construction at the plaza started earlier this year.

‘’Everyone’s worried. We’ve lost $2000 a week in profit,’’ he said.

‘’I’ve had to come out of retirement because of how business is going, it’s absolutely disgraceful.’’

He’s concerned the new parking rules will scare more people off coming to the plaza.

‘’They put in the signs on Friday afternoon and on Saturday the rangers were here fining people,’’ he said.

‘’Before they used to come every three months. Now they’re here every second day.’’

He said the rangers were focusing on the front to kerb rule rather than the construction vehicles that overstayed the time limits.

Steven Bouzanis owns a number of buildings along the strip and said many stores had lost 40 per cent of business.

‘’They’ve destroyed the business here, people can’t afford to pay their rent,’’ he said.

‘’It’s hard times and it’s only gotten worse.’’

Froth Espresso owner Andy Omopoulos has complained before.

‘’The fines have just stopped people coming,’’ he said.

‘’We’ve lost 60 per cent of our business.’’

A Bayside Council spokesman has rejected the claims saying rangers gave a four week grace period after the parking spaces were reopened with the signs installed in September.

He said since November 1, when the grace period ended, 35 fines have been issued including seven for overstaying timed parking.

He said business owners had been warned about the changes well in advance.

‘’The car spaces in question have been accessible since early September and the first complaint regarding parking was received in November,’’ he said.

‘’Throughout this project, business owners and residents were duly notified about the progress of work and the opening dates of each stage of the car park.’’

He said that the project is expected to be finished before Easter next year.