Street works underway along Hampden Rd, Artarmon
Photo: Claudia Butjerevic, THE POST
In our previous edition, The Post published an article concerning Willoughby City Council’s streetscape on Hampden Road, Artarmon.
The Post discussed the project with businesses owners along Hampden Road, and relayed their opinions and thoughts in the article.
The Post reached out to Willoughby City Council for comment. At the time of publication, The Post were awaiting response from Willoughby City Council.
Willoughby City Council have since responded, and The Post would like to publish Council’s comment about the streetscape project on Hampden Road.
In regards to support for businesses during the time of construction, Council points to their enlisting of Service NSW for Business to offer free advice to businesses along Hampden Road. ‘Ten free sessions with a Service NSW for Business team member have been offered to businesses to look at ways their can boost online marketing,’ says Willoughby City Council.
Council mentions their engagement with the Love Your Local campaign, providing a $7,500 grant to the Artarmon Progress Association to set up the campaign.
Council also mentions the Community Liaison Officer they have allocated to provide a line of communication between Council and businesses, which was referenced in our previous article.
For the concerns raised in respect to parking, Council comments, ‘Parking availability on Hampden Road will be affected and vary during the construction works. To support continued access to local shops and encourage parking turn over, 30-minute parking is available at all times on Hampden Lane which runs parallel to Hampden Road. Signage located at the entrances and within the Centre reminds motorists of the available Hampden Lane parking. Parking availability is also being communicated via regular email updates to registered parties.’
Willoughby City Council states the Artarmon Local Centre Public Domain Masterplan incorporated community feedback since early 2017. Council states, ‘The Artarmon streetscape Plan was open to the community for comment on Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ for 28 days and a subsequent community webinar was held August 26, 2020, to inform the design. Regular consultation was also facilitated with the Artarmon Progress Association throughout 2020 and 2021 to discuss the Plan.’
The Post additionally reached out to Tim James, Member for Willoughby, for comment. ‘It’s pleasing to see the Hampden Road streetscape improvements are now underway,’ said Tim James. ‘I have met with many small businesses on Hampden Road and heard their concerns over construction disruptions. I continue to raise these concerns with Willoughby Council and expect that small businesses are well supported during this time. I urge all in Artarmon to support our many great, dedicated shopkeepers, shop local and support them during this period.’
The Post’s previous article regarding the streetscape can be found in our mid-May edition, titled “Hampden Road Artarmon Streetscape”.
