Call for car park signage before Ballan

A PROMINENT business owner and community figure has said Ballan requires descriptive parking signs before visitors drive into town.

The shire’s council, however, said there is signage directing motorists to car spots behind the main street.

Kevin Harper, the president of the Ballan Autumn Festival, said that signage is required for motorists before they enter town advising them on car parking behind Old Melbourne Road.

“On busy weekends – especially during market days – main street parking is quickly exhausted,” he said.

“However, there is ample parking behind the main street, running parallel to it, with pedestrian access via laneways.

“The difficulty is not a lack of parking – it is a lack of awareness.”

The festival president has called for large, highly visible directional signs that indicate business area parking, easy access to the main street and the number of available parking spaces.

“These signs should be positioned early enough to allow drivers to make an informed decision before they reach the already congested main street,” he said.

The 2019 Moorabool Citizen of the Year said the concern had been raised in conversations with visitors, councillors and business operators.

“Cafe patrons in nearby towns such as Gordon have commented that they visited Ballan, could not find parking in the main street, and simply left,” he said. “Unaware that convenient parking existed nearby.”

He said improved signage would encourage the redirection of traffic, make full use of existing parking and improve visitor experience.

While there is parking signage within town, he said signs are too small, poorly positioned and lack descriptive information.

A shire spokesperson said: “Council has installed adequate signage in several locations on Inglis and Fisken streets to indicate off-street parking behind the main street, including how many car spots are available.”