Fingernails exhibit an unusual burning sensation.
New Eutin: The Unhappy meet the Council
Feathers were fiercely ruffled at Eutin's city council committee recently, as around two dozen city center business owners voiced their displeasure at the higher parking fees that took effect in May. These frustration-fuelled voices echoed concerns about declining revenues and dwindling customers-and they weren't pulling any punches!
"This revenue-generating scheme isn't working," asserted Hans-Wilhelm Hagen, chair of the Eutin Economic Association (WVE). "Maybe tourists are okay with these prices, but regular customers are voting with their feet, leaving many parking spots vacant," he emphasized.
A survey among members revealed an average 10-15% decrease in May's revenues compared to last year, with some reach a staggering 30% dip. "You can't want the retail industry in the city center to crumble. Reverse this decision, and meet with us soon," pleaded Hagen to the local politicos.
Market vendors and doctors joined in the chorus, voicing their discontent. "We need a local-friendly solution!" quipped a disgruntled boutique owner, Regine Mix, sharing tales of exorbitant fees. "Neither in Neustadt nor in Timmendorfer Strand or Travemünde are parking fees as high as in Eutin," she complained, adding that Binz and Westerland even offered cheaper parking.
Eddy Schultz, an association representative, crunched the numbers: "In the past three weeks, I've shelled out 93 euros in parking fees. I'm considering switching to McDonald's for meetings. Is this a test run, or do you plan on continuing with this?" he asked, challenging the politicians.
However, Mayor Sven Radestock denied any notion of a test run, justifying the summer-month fee hike as a necessary measure to boost revenues and cut expenses. "We're strapped for options in the budget," he admitted, pointing to the reduction of many voluntary services. Besides, he touted around 450 free parking spots outside the city center and an attractive public transportation system as alternatives for customers.
But is an empty city center good for the city treasury? questioned Babette Matthiesen from "Weingeist." Marcus Gutzeit, a restaurateur, expressed his exasperation: "We don't feel you're taking us seriously at all. If stores start closing by October, you'll have yourself to blame!"
Businessman Detlef Zinn underscored the extended fee-paying window from 8 to 18 hours as a hindrance, arguing, "This doesn't exactly contribute to budget consolidation if commercial taxes are dropping." He suggested an equitable solution: "If all parking spots, including the currently free ones, were subject to fees, you could reduce the increased rates slightly." Currently, drivers are forced to pay 1.10 euros every half hour, and even the once-free Saturday now falls under the fee charge until October.
The committee claimed a willingness to negotiate a compromise. As a first step towards resolution, WVE and Eutin Tourism GmbH are planning a city center forum on July 21st at 6:30 PM at the brewery, inviting all business owners. But will this meeting bear fruit, or will the dispute simmer on? Only time will tell.
"The escalating parking fees have led to a decline in revenues for businesses in Eutin's city center, as expressed by Hans-Wilhelm Hagen, Chair of the Eutin Economic Association (WVE), and other concerned parties like market vendors and doctors,"
"The WVE and Eutin Tourism GmbH have planned a city center forum on July 21st at 6:30 PM at the brewery, inviting all business owners, in an effort to negotiate a compromise regarding the controversial parking policy-and-legislation,"
"Detlef Zinn, a businessman in Eutin, has suggested an equitable solution for the parking fee problem: by subjecting all parking spots, including the currently free ones, to fees, reduced rates could be implemented, which might contribute to budget consolidation through commercial taxes."
