The divisions over Regent Street changes: Council and RWA support it, RTA is against it

Even though about a100 residents protested near the current IGA store, backing traffic up all the way to Central Station, the change to Regent Street went ahead. Now there seems to be agreement that it was a mistake.

Since the change to the traffic flows to Regent Street, it has been more difficult to operate a business, though there are more signs of hope.

The South Sydney Herald talked to the owners and operators of one of the furniture shops Retro on Regent - Patti Southern and her mother Betty Colquhon. The building itself was the home of South Sydney Community Aid for a period in the mid 1990’s, and the building has been owned by Betty’s family for most of her life.

Retro on Regent has been around for at least 8 years and specializes in what they describe in the trade as mid-twentieth century furniture. Since it opened, there are now two other furniture shops virtually next door. Patti says the other shops have brought more people into that part of Regent Street to buy furniture and there is a high degree of co-operation amongst the shops.

One of the issues that inhibit successful trading, according to Patti, is the one-way traffic. Customers have commented that it is very difficult to stop as you come down the street as it is like an expressway.

Leanne Fraser from the Appetite Café next door said, “A two-way Regent Street would slow down the traffic and create a village atmosphere”. Both Patti and Leanne argue it would be good for small business and for locals.

The Redfern Waterloo Authority has been trying to convince the RTA of the merits of these opinions.

City of Sydney Councillor, Tony Pooley, pointed out that Crown Street, Surry Hills was one-way, as part of an RTA experiment, and has been reversed. He says that shops on Crown Street have benefited - so why not Regent Street?

A spokesperson for the City Council made the remark: “The local community strongly supported returning Regent Street to two-way traffic during the City of Sydney’s consultations on the Draft Inner South Local Action Plan. The City is pursuing a range of strategies to create a thriving community precinct around Redfern and Regent Street and will continue to support community calls for this change. The City understands that the Redfern Waterloo Authority and the RTA met to discuss the issue. However, the RTA has reportedly confirmed its position of keeping Regent Street one-way, despite the negative impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety, residential amenities and area regeneration.

What’s your opinion on the future of Regent Street? email the SSH at editor@ssh.com.au

Source: South Sydney Herald December 2006