Ashfield Council looks to shut rollers

Ashfield Council is split over whether local shopkeepers should be allowed to install roller shutters.

Some councillors believe it creates an “unsympathetic” appearance after dark while others argue that safety trumps aesthetics.

Tony He, the owner of Healthy Ocean Food on Hercules St, recently submitted a development application (DA) to keep his roller shutter despite installing it against Council policy.

Liberal Councillor Julie Passas said at the March 12 Council meeting said safety was the foremost concern.

“Hercules St is not a safe place after dark, there are drug deals and people using alleyways as toilets. We should educate shopkeepers in a way to help them prevent further crime,” she said.

“Ninety-five percent of the shops on Hercules Street already have roller shutters because the insurance is horrendous, so we should do everything in our power to support small businesses.”

Ms Passas requested a motion for Mr He to keep his roller shutter without penalty.

But Deputy Mayor Monica Wangmann said in an email response: “Both the Chamber of Commerce and Council do not support the installation of roller shutters in Ashfield. This has been the case since the mid 1990’s. It is a long-term policy of Council.

“Unfortunately roller shutters do not convey safety and or attractiveness to passers by at night. There are other more sightly alternatives for security.”

But Mr He responded it was in the interest of business owners to maintain the right to roller shutters.

“There are only three reasons why we want roller shutters – security, safety and insurance. The Council is just full of rubbish,” he said.

After Ashfield Police checked Mr He’s security camera eight times due to several attempted break-ins, they advised him that roller shutters would be the most effective security measure.

Mr He’s DA was passed through after Ms Passas’ successful motion, but controversy remains.

“We don’t want other shopkeepers to illegally install roller shutters in the future,” said Ms Wangmann.

Kerrie Bush, President of the Ashfield Chamber of Commerce, said the perception associated with roller shutters encouraged crime.

“It gives a perception where people feel that it’s unsafe if you’ve got a lot of shops that are closed off with roller shutters [covered in graffiti] as opposed to going down Summer Hill or Haberfield at night where you’ve got the shopfronts, so that looks bright and inviting. [Shopkeepers] have got to make the community feel safe,” she said.

In regards to alternative security measures, Ms Bush said: “I use an alarm system on our building and we haven’t had an attempted break-in here for years – probably about 15 years since we’ve had one.”

Danny Luk, the owner of Easyway in Ashfield, has installed roller shutters and reinforced that Council should focus on “functions over fashion” as it is a “question of safety and security”.

By Tang Li