Skyline Newsagency: Frenchs Forest business closes after 4-year parking battle

A once-bustling northern beaches’ business has closed its doors after customers numbers were halved when authorities slashed street parking.

Jim Fleming, the owner of the Skyline Newsagency at Frenchs Forest, is closing its doors after 34 years. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

A thriving neighbourhood newsagency — which opened in 1987 — has closed its doors after customer numbers plummeted due to road work linked to the new Northern Beaches Hospital.

The $500 million project to improve the road network around the hospital at Frenchs Forest meant that on-street parking outside the Skyline shopping centre was massively reduced.

Jim Fleming, owner of the Skyline Newsagency on Frenchs Forest Rd East, said it was a body blow to his business of 34 years.

Work underway to change the footpath and parking spaces outside the the Skyline shopping centre at French's Forest. Picture: Adam Yip/Manly Daily

“It cut us in half,” Mr Fleming, who has been battling parking changes since 2017, said on Friday.

The newsagent said State Government officials told him that when they installed traffic lights at the intersection of Frenchs Forest Rd East and Patanga Rd carparking outside, what the locals call “the Skyline shops”, would be drastically cut.

Work at the intersection was part of wider moves to improve traffic flows around, and access to, the new hospital.

The number of on-street parking spaces was drastically reduced. Picture: Adam Yip/Manly Daily

The nose-to-kerb parking spots outside the shops dropped from 20 down to just four.

“They told me that you can’t have parking within 20m of an intersection with traffic lights,” Mr Fleming said.

“I suggested putting in a round-a-bout but they said it would be too busy for that.

“So, when the parking spaces disappeared people would drive up to the shops, see there was nowhere to park, and just keep going somewhere else.”

While a number of new parking spaces were installed on Frenchs Forest Rd East, about 50m east of the Skyline shops, Mr Fleming said they had done little to improve customer numbers.

“When we had the parking out the front, it was a meeting place for tradies early in the morning.

Jim Fleming outside the Skyline Newsagency at Frenchs Forest. It looked after its last customers on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“They’d pull up in their utes, grab something from the bakery next door and then come in here for the newspaper or cigarettes and off they’d go.

“The number of people coming in to buy papers and buy Lotto and lottery tickets, get an OPAL card, dropped off. They simply don’t have anywhere to park.”

A transport for NSW spokesman said that last year it contributed $1 million and partnered with the Northern Beaches Council to build a new parking area behind the Skyline shops, previously known as 3 Patanga Road, Frenchs Forest.

“To improve safety and efficiency at the Patanga Road and Frenchs Forest Road East intersection, parking in front of the Skyline shops was reconfigured,” the spokesman said.

“New parking spots were built around 70m east of the KFC restaurant, and four parking spots were kept in front of the shops for loading, those with a disability, and Australia Post.

“There was no reduction in overall parking near the Skyline shops.”

Mr Fleming, who worked seven days a week, said he and his wife Sue would miss chatting to their regular customers, but would not miss the long hours in the shop including 3am starts when he used to do the morning newspaper home deliveries.

“I’ll have time now to better maintain the house I built at Davidson. It needs a bit of work.”