The Sun
Wednesday September 30, 2020
Blenheim Toyota
HOME OF THE HILUX Blenheim has been served by the old meters since the 1980s and about a dozen of Marlborough's old ‘lollipop’ parking meters have been sold already. Photo by Local Democracy Reporting
Own a slice of history
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Old lollipop parking meters up for sale CANOPY By Chloe Ranford, Local Democracy Reporter
Rifling for coins to pay for parking was once a way of life. But after 30-years in action, Blenheim’s coin-operated Duncan ‘lollipop’ meters were replaced with digital screens and sent to a metal yard to be fed through a shredder. But before the meters are chopped up for scrap, Trillo Metals is giving people the chance to bring home the unique “keepsake” or “memorabilia” items for $40 a meter. Trillo Metals co-owner Craig Trillo said about a dozen meters had be sold so far, mainly to women looking to spice up their son’s, son-in-law’s or husband’s “man cave”. One woman had travelled from Nelson to buy a lollipop meter. Some had even bought more than one, he said. This did not include the 21 meters purchased by the Ashburton District Council from the Marlborough District Council earlier this year for $3150 to replace its own damaged meter stock, or use for parts. Those that didn’t find a home before mid- to
late-October would be fed through a shredder and sent over to India. Pay-by-plate meters have been gradually rolled out in Blenheim and Picton since June 2019, after old age and vandalism pushed Blenheim’s lollipop meters to breaking point. The final meter was removed in June. A statement on the council’s website said the lollipop meters were in “varying condition”. Some had heads but no pole to stand on, while others had two heads and a pole. “It will be a first-in, first-served system,” it said. “It also pays to note that the meters are surprisingly top heavy ... If you wish to stand these up... the base will need to be concreted in or weighted down.” The council waived parking fees in town centres during the coronavirus lockdown. It later agreed in May to roll out two-hour free parking in Blenheim and Picton, but decided this month to move to one-hour free parking from October 1. The lollipop meters were sold to Trillo Metals as scrap metal. Trillo Metals would pay the council the scrap metal value, which was expected to be a small sum. Meters could be bought from Trillo Metals on 03 578 0340.
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