By Alesha Capone
A petition is calling for a Hoppers Crossing special school to be permitted to continue using a nearby shopping centre’s carpark free-of-charge.
Barrie Hope, who works as a supervisor at the Warringa Park School crossing, started the petition.
The petition states that members of the school community have been parking in the Woodville Shopping Centre carpark for more than 30 years and parents drop children off there.
Mr Hope said that earlier this year, the body corporate which owns the carpark barricaded entry to the site with temporary fencing and signs – which have since been removed – threatening to tow away vehicles not belonging to shopping centre customers.
School staff have been told they can park at the spot if they pay $8 per day.
Mr Hope said school staff usually parked on the far left side of the carpark, leaving the area close to the shops free for truck deliveries and shoppers.
The petition is asking for Wyndham council to intervene to keep this section of the carpark free for the school to use, including if a development is proposed for the site.
“If the school cannot use the car park, they will be forced to park on the surrounding streets creating parking problems for residents and more traffic congestion in the area,” the petition states.
Some of the Woodville traders last week had the petition in their stores for customers to sign.
A school staff member, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was too scared to park her car on the streets around the Warringa Park campus, in case it was hit by hoons.
In March, Star Weekly spoke to a group of Woodville residents, who said drivers often engaged in unsafe behaviour in their neighbourhood, including speeding, drag racing and doing burnouts.
Wyndham council’s design and liveability director, Ludo Campbell-Reid, said the council was committed to working with the school and shopping centre.
“We are aware there are issues with parking, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times,” the spokesperson said.
Council officers will prepare a traffic and parking management plan for the area.
Woodville Shopping Centre’s body corporate was contacted for comment.
