The Hepburn Shire is undertaking a feasibility study to investigate whether parking in the main street is viable.

Mayor Don Henderson said it was not a matter of revenue raising, but rather a move to encourage shopping in the town.

He said the Daylesford business group raised the issue when council was undertaking its streetscape consultation.

“The main issue for traders is the turnover of traffic, particularly at the weekends, and we just want to ease the congestion,” Cr Henderson said.

“The time limit is not working; people are parking in the main street all day and we have heard of people going to Creswick for a coffee because Daylesford is too busy.”

But Daylesford traders have branded the move as unnecessary.

Complete Garden joint manager Ray Austin said the current parking situation was working and the change would just confuse people.

“At the moment people can browse leisurely and I think that’s an essential part of retail,” he said.

“As traders we are already competing against online businesses and this is just another cost for consumers.”

He said shoppers moved their cars regularly in the street, and even at the busiest times, shoppers could get a park in the main street.

Wombat Gifts’ Karen Grant said it would be a huge turn off for shoppers if paid parking was introduced, with fellow trader Debbie Moses saying it would create “a city feel in a beautiful country town”.

“You might be lucky to get a park in a town on the weekends here but I think that’s just part of excitement of shopping,” she said.

“Locals tend to stay away on the weekends already and while it is a humming town, we don’t need paid parking.”

As part of the proposed move, locals might be offered discounted parking to entice them to visit the main street, Cr Henderson said.

“We are mindful that we want to look after the locals and we hear stories of them not being able to get a park in Daylesford so they travel to Creswick just to have a coffee,” he said.

“We are looking for an honest assessment with this report and we believe while the parks might raise revenue in the long term, it will be cost neutral at the start.

“It’s not a matter of stinging people – we just want more people to be able to get a park when they need it.”