WORD ON THE STREET: A staff member at Southland Shopping Centre says it’s like a “ghost town” after management introduced paid parking.

Caller Michelle told Tom Elliott staff were parking in the surrounding streets to avoid paying a price after three hours.

She said she believed even customers, especially the older customers, were confused by the new ticketless parking system and were steering clear.

“3pm my boss left to do the school pick-up, and it’s like a ghost town out there,” she said.

“I think (customers) are staying away,” she said.

“That car park is normally much much fuller than that.”

Earlier this week the union weighed in and criticised the decision saying it put pressure on workers.

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