Push for more seating, shade

Residents have until the end of October to comment on the draft Cumberland Local Shops Study which explores how best to understand, protect and enhance local shops including improving public domain upgrades and refining planning controls.
Recently enjoying upgrades, Dellwood Street, South Granville, shopping strip has had new paving, furniture and landscaping but business owners say more needs to be done.
Cignall tobacconist manager Ruby Dib said only two tables had been installed, one outside the bakery and one near Blaxcell Street which was hardly in use.
She suggested another couple of tables outside the takeaway restaurant as well as putting in a water fountain to reduce heat and provide a drink for numerous pet dogs that frequent the area.
“Both the bakery and takeaway store make great coffee and are popular but there’s not enough seating outside,” she said.
“The strip would also look more appealing if the shop facades were uniform and more shade is needed.
“We used to have English Plane trees under which people used to congregate but they’ve been replaced with Japanese Elms; these will take another few years of growth to provide proper shade.”
Dellwood Newsagency manager Julie Pettitt agrees that more tables and shade are definitely priority.
“It would also be great if the council could do something about all the pigeons and ibis as they often come into the shops and there is ‘poo’ everywhere,” she said.
However, she said the area was getting “nicer”.
“The council collects the garbage everyday which is great and are very open to our ideas,” she said.
To find out more, there will be three drop-in sessions: Granville Town Hall, Monday, October 16, 5-7pm; Guildford Library, Tuesday, October 17, 5-7pm; and Berala Community Centre, Tuesday, October 24, 5-7pm.
Have your say by October 31 at: haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/local-shops-study.