Most Chester merchants want parking rule to stay

Leave Chester's parking policy alone.

That's what 28 of the 36 downtown merchants surveyed this week said about a city ordinance that limits storefront parking along Gadsden, Main and Wylie streets to two hours.

Cars parked longer than that can receive a $20 ticket.

The issue was raised more than a month ago by City Councilman George Caldwell, who said he'd received some complaints about the parking rule.

The ordinance was established in the early 1980s.

The council discussed the issue at this week's meeting, and then allowed the Chester police to ask merchants what they wanted.

Only 8 wanted a change.