Concerns have been raised by the owner of a martial arts business in Canning Vale about the number of businesses approved by the City of Gosnells.
Michael Martino has alleged the city has approved two new businesses on Nicholson Road but there are not enough parking bays to suit the number of businesses in the area.
Mr Martino, who has been running a not for profit mixed martial arts studio for more than five years, fears he will have to close the place down.
“There’s just not enough parking bays,” he said.
“I’ve got parents trying to bring their kids here but they can’t find parking.
“We have some of the best fighters in the country and I would hate to lose that.”
Mr Martino has alleged the city did not consult residents when they approved the businesses.
He has called the situation a complete nightmare and said he had witnessed a fight between two women about parking bays some weeks ago.
“The child was so scared she grabbed hold of her mother’s leg,” he said.
“That was when I intervened and tried to calm things down.”
Mr Martino said there are three gyms in the area with a combined membership of more than 3000 and fewer than 100 bays.
“This has been going on for too long,” he said.
“Something needs to be done.”
City of Gosnells chief executive officer Ian Cowie said the city’s town planning scheme establishes parking requirements for various land uses.
“Where a planning application is received that meets those requirements, the city could not refuse the application on parking grounds,” he said.
“The city has previously offered to enter into an agreement with the strata body for the complex at 489 Nicholson Road which would allow parking restrictions to operate on the site, however that offer was refused.”
Mr Cowie said the city had also offered to enter into an agreement with Mr Martino, which would allow parking restrictions to be enforced for the parking bays, which he owns but he said, to date, Mr Martino has not entered into such an agreement.
