Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ghent introduced match-day-only resident zones near Planet Group Arena. After complaints, the 2nd parking permit dropped from €250 to €25. This helps families like those on Proeftuinstraat.
As VRT News reported, to deal with parking issues near the Planet Group Arena in Ghent, especially when KAA Gent has home games, the city is creating temporary zones for residents. These zones will be active on match days, and only residents with valid parking permits will be allowed to park in these areas.
Vehicles without permits will face fines. Officials mentioned that this new rule aims to ensure that residents can find parking spots, addressing the problem of football fans parking in residential streets to avoid paid parking or longer walks.
They said that this measure is part of Ghent’s wider plan to manage traffic and congestion around the stadium during busy events, ensuring that residents are not negatively affected by the large number of visitors.
Can Ghent’s new parking rules help residents?
In Proeftuinstraat, recent construction is causing a parking problem. The sidewalks are raised, blocking residents from their parking spots. On normal days, they can park on the street. But on game days, when parking is limited, residents can’t find any spots, even their own. They mentioned that this is frustrating because the new parking rules were meant to help them.
Ghent’s new parking rules near the Planet Group Arena are causing problems for some residents. Each house can park one car with a free resident card. However, families with 2 vehicles face a challenge. They need to pay €250 annually for a 2nd card to park legally on match days when the temporary residents’ zones are enforced.
Residents mentioned that this is frustrating, as the parking restrictions only apply on match days, not year-round. Many families feel penalised, essentially paying a high fee to park near their homes a few times a month.
After complaints, Ghent changed its parking rules near the Planet Group Arena. Families with two cars can now get a second parking card for only €25 a year, which is much cheaper than before. The new lower price is because the parking rules are only for game days. The city wants to be fair to families while still managing parking during events.
