ST ALBANS traders fear parking problems along Alfrieda St could intensify, after IGA confirmed plans to begin charging shoppers to use its car park.

IGA spokesman Tim Allerton last week confirmed the retailer was considering installing parking meters in its Alfrieda St car park in a bid to crack down on non-IGA customers and workers using the car park.

“The council and IGA are concerned that people are using the car park as an all day car park, which is actually stopping shoppers from using it,” Mr Allerton said.

“So these measures are being considered to stop the misuse of the car park and restore it to shoppers’ use.”

But traders say the plan will do nothing to solve the street’s parking woes and could even make the problem worse.

Anh Pham, who owns a café along Alfrieda St said she feared the plan would put a strain on parking on the already-congested main road.

“There isn’t enough parking as it is and if people can’t use the IGA car park, more of them are going to try to park on Alfrieda St, which is already choked with cars every day,” she said.

“They might have a problem with parking but doing this will make the problem worse for all the other traders in the area.”

St Albans Traders Association President Sam Agricola said lack of parking was an ongoing problem in the area.

He said many traders had little choice but to use the IGA car park.

“There really needs to be a designated area for traders to park all day for free,” Mr Agricola said.

“There is a shortage of parking as it is but it is particularly difficult for traders.

“At the moment you have to walk quite a long way to get any all day parking.

“I wouldn’t want any of my female staff to have to do that and I don’t blame people for being hesitant to do so.”

More than 100 traders have united to campaign for more parking bays along Alfrieda St.

A petition with 135 signatures has been presented to Brimbank Council, urging it to install an extra 32 parking bays along the busy street.