A meeting of the Municipal Assembly last night was held at the Bombeiros building to accommodate over 300 Vila Real de Santo António residents concerned at proposed parking regulations that they say will stifle trade.
The council last night said it had reached an agreement with the company it has engaged to manage the new and existing paid for parking zones in the city centre and has reduced the proposed metered area by about one third.
VRSA city centre residents will be entitled to free parking for up to three cars, one can be parked anywhere in the metered area and the other in a marked zone at the edge of the metered area. These metered areas are to the north and south of the historic centre's pedestrian zone.
The council also aims to open up free parking at the Cine-Foz and the old Tenório factory which would release a further 1,700 spaces for cars.
Many locals still do not like the parking meter expansion as they feel it will deter visitors from using the city centre for shopping and leisure.
The deal with the collection and management company, ‘Estacionamentos à Superfície e Subterrâneos,’ can not go ahead this week as the council had planned as these agreed amendments have to be approved formally.
It is not known whether the contract already had been signed with the parking management company and whether this reduction in parking zone area will trigger any compensation payment.
