Manly Council called to fix neglected outdoor area of Balgowlah shopping village

Balgowlah shop owners are calling on Manly Council to revamp their shopping village, saying they are sick and tired of working in such “dilapidated” conditions.

19/3/16 Local shop owners (LR) Yorick Sweetnam and Mark Hansen (0414678272) on Sydney road Balgowlah. Balgowlah shop owners and residents are sick and tiered of Manly council not willing to upgrade the decrepit Balgowlah village. Adam Yip/The Manly Daily

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Balgowlah shop owners are calling on Manly Council to revamp their shopping village, saying they are sick and tired of working in such “dilapidated” conditions.

Yorick Sweetnam, of Sweetnams Real Estate, said he and neighbouring shop owners on Sydney Rd were tired of the shopping village looking so rundown.

The rundown shopping village. Picture: Supplied.

“At the moment you can’t even sit on the furniture. It’s dilapidated. The garden beds are bare. It’s just not conducive to business,” he said.

Mr Sweetnam said the council had revamped Fairlight, Seaforth and Manly many times over, and now it was Balgowlah’s turn.

“When you look at the other areas, it’s chalk and cheese,” Mr Sweetnam said.

“It’s a little frustrating when staff want to duck outside and sit on the bench seat and they simply can’t.”

Neighbouring shop owner Mark Hansen said it had been an ongoing issue with the council.

“Balgowlah has been the neglected cousin for far too long,” Mr Hansen said.

A Manly Council spokesman said the council had continued to plan for the future urban development of the area and looked forward to working with Balgowlah businesses.