“In times that are already difficult, Klagenfurt’s city politicians apparently want to ensure that the city center and its businesses come under even more pressure. There is no other way to explain the city politicians’ proposal to delete the 30-minute free parking,” says Franz Ahm, Chairman of the WK district office in Klagenfurt in the Carinthia Chamber of Commerce. The increase in parking fees is already causing difficulties for businesses in the city center, as a survey from March showed.
A survey in March revealed problem areas in the companies
88 percent of those surveyed judged the increase to be inappropriate, and 61 percent reported a significant drop in sales in the first month. “In addition, it was already clear that the increase was not necessary at all: the argument that the additional income was needed to clean up the city budget was revised shortly following the fee increase was introduced. The fact that, following only three months, the next serious deterioration for the companies is to be introduced causes a great deal of excitement and incomprehension,” announces the WKK.
Proposed 60-minute free parking
After criticism of the increase in parking fees in January, it was hoped that the city would make concessions. An increase in free parking from 30 to 60 minutes was demanded, instead this should now be completely canceled, so the consideration. “The fact that a general abolition is now being discussed instead is incomprehensible. We are absolutely positive regarding the proposal to integrate the 30-minute free parking into the parking rate. However, it is not possible to do away with the general free parking – only both make sense and would bring regarding an improvement,” Ahm clarifies.
