FRANKSTON Power Centre shop owners and managers say Monash University students are hitting their profits by hogging free parking slots supposed to be used by customers.
Several business people interviewed by the Weekly agreed that the parking squeeze has cut into their March takings for several years, with this year's customer decline the most noticeable.
The frustrated shop owners are investigating the possibilities of erecting temporary signage at the centre on Moorooduc Highway and towing vehicles at the stores' expense if the issue cannot be resolved.
Beacon Lighting owner Adam Stubbs said "sales have really been hurting" due to a lack of parking available for customers since university classes resumed.
He said the owner of a nearby bigger shop had hired security guards for a few hours in the mornings to move students on.
"We can't afford to do anything like that," Mr Stubbs said. "I try and argue but they [students] don't seem to understand."
Mr Stubbs said when he wrote to Monash about the issue, the university suggested he organise council parking officers to patrol the car park.
"I don't want to do that to my customers or staff," he said.
"The uni don't seem to care, and they're having a negative impact on the surrounding community so they should care. I had to reduce the hours of two casuals as a result of this."
RSEA manager Kyle Shinners said he had limited parking spaces as his shop front was at the side of the Power Centre building.
"I don't mind them [students] parking here but it gets a bit much when you go out and every car has a P-plate," Mr Shinners said.
Supercheap Auto manager Dylan Kane said sales had dropped by 5 to 10 per cent, with the morning trade particularly suffering.
Having a full car park at 8am also created an occupational health and safety risk for delivery drivers who were forced to park on the thoroughfare. Mr Kane said
he had been frustrated by the arrogance of several students who refused to remove their cars from the front of his store.
Monash University spokeswoman Stacey Mair said there were currently 900 parking spaces available at the peninsula campus, which is attended by about 4000 students.
"Parking at the peninsula campus has been problematic for many years for a variety of reasons. We are aware of current concerns by some of the local traders next to the campus," she said.
Students at the campus are required to pay $230 a year for a standard parking permit and $400 for spaces closer to their classes. Ticketed parking costs $1.50 per hour for up to four hours of parking or $7.50 per day.
Monash peninsula students who need to attend subjects at other campuses are required to pay for additional permits or can purchase a $1000 permit which allows parking at all campuses.
Ms Mair said the university was keen to maintain a good relationship with shop owners and had reminded students in an email that store parking was for shop patrons only.
Students who car pooled received free parking and the university was funding two shuttle bus services, including one from Frankston station.
"University student parking numbers generally settle down after the fourth week in each semester," she said.
Email a friend