Guildford Association president Barbara Dundas said information obtained from the City of Swan indicated the parking shortfall for the Guildford Hotel site could blow out to more than 400 bays if the McDonald’s application was approved.
“The parking requirements for this site are between 461 to 477 car bays,” she said. “The shortfall will be between 417 or 434 bays, depending on whether the McDonald’s is assessed as a restaurant or fast food outlet.
“Guildford is a town with a parking crisis.
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READ NOW“The community has asked council and staff over the last 20 years to secure adequate parking for the existing shops, facilities and to help promote Guildford as a unique tourist destination.
“We believe the only appropriate and essential use for the hotel/tavern carpark is as a carpark for the tavern.”
The Guildford Association has urged the City of Swan to seek legal advice on whether the parking shortfall concession was legally binding for the McDonald’s development application.
City chief executive Mike Foley declined to comment other than to say a decision over the McDonald’s application would be made by the East Metro Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP).
“These questions raised by the Guildford Association, along with all other submissions regarding the Development Application, will be addressed in the City’s Responsible Authority Report to the JDAP,” he said. “This report will be available on the JDAP website via the agenda, when the matter is due to be heard.”
Mrs Dundas said the Public Transport Authority (PTA) had offered some parking relief for Guildford by offering railway station parking in nearby Victoria Street, available after hours for a fee and for free at weekends.
She said Guildford had only 13 public car bays and disabled bays were poorly represented.
“However the PTA have indicated that parking at the railway station should not be considered a permanent feature in the medium or long term for hotel patrons or the general public,” she said.
Meanwhile a free music concert will be held at Stirling Square on Sunday, May 21 in support of The Say No To McDonalds In Guildford group.
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