Part of the car park that serves Quinta do Lago's two shopping centers will be paid again between June and September. The measure does not generate consensus between users and tenants, but is justified by the municipal company Loulé Concelho Global (LC Global) as a way of «guaranteeing turnover» and more business for the stores.
Currently, the approximately 80 places that will be paid from June onwards are closed, due to works being carried out, “to shade the area”. A way to "differentiate that offer" of parking and "positively discriminate" those who choose to pay.
And, assured the Sul Informação LC Global's administration to pay is, indeed, an option. "Of the approximately 400 spaces existing in the surroundings of the two shopping centres, only 80 are paid for", assured the company. The places in question are those located between the Buganvília Plaza and Quinta Shopping malls.
“People park their cars here and use hotel transport to get to work. this paid parking allowance serves exclusively to guarantee turnover”, said the municipal company from Loulé. On the other hand, it is a question of justice “because there is already paid parking in Vale do Lobo and in other urban centers in Loulé”.
Prices will be “the same as in the city”, ie “20 cents for each 15-minute period”. A value that LC Global considers affordable, especially when it comes to shopping centers that work with customers and high-end products.
“Customers with more money won't be waiting or looking for a seat. This is a way of guaranteeing that there are places next to the shopping centers», claimed the company. Those who don't want to pay will find a place if they look for or wait a while, because "even in August, the park is never completely full." "We never had complaints from customers," adds the management of LC Global.
A different view has some shopkeepers and their customers. In declarations to the Sul Informação, two businesswomen who operate stores at Quinta Shopping say the paid car park has been criticized by many of its customers, who consider it "an offense" to have to pay an additional fee to park.
“I think everyone wants the park to be free. A part has already stopped being paid, down there, but this was already the result of complaints», they guaranteed. «People, being Quinta Shopping and a private place, want some perks. They end up finding it petty that parking is charged to them», they explain. Many of the customers are resident foreigners, they add.
“This has been very detrimental to the business. The English are very indignant about this issue. In the beginning, we suffered a lot. When they were still charging in the low season, people didn't even come,” they assured.
The entry of a new executive fueled the hope of the two businesswomen that the measure would be revoked. Something that will not happen, since, according to LC Global, in addition to not having received customer complaints, the company has "felt all the support from the Quinta Shopping administration".
“We know that there are those who are contesting the measure, but we take it in the interests of shopkeepers. Quinta Shopping itself has its own parking area that seals off in the morning, so that it is available later for its customers», he exemplified.
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