Granville’s South St pips Pendle Hill’s main street for upgrades

A western Sydney council has voted to pump up to $1 million towards an area it considers the ‘jewel in its crown’ over another suburb that is ‘falling apart’.

Pendle Hill shops have been overlooked for funding. Picture: Carmela Roche

Pendle Hill’s main street is deteriorating and you “can’t even get a good coffee” but it is missing out on a State Government grant up of up to $1 million in favour of Granville’s thriving main drag.

At a Cumberland Council meeting last month, councillor Lisa Lake argued Pendle Way needed the Your High Street grant more than Granville’s South St.

The grants are intended for main streets that are tired and need invigorating.

South St at Granville is already a bustling main street.

“I don’t think that’s South St Granville, I think High St, Granville’s a wonderful street,’’ Cr Lake said.

“It’s green, it’s got outdoor dining, it’s got great lighting, it’s got heritage background, it’s got great food, it’s a terrific street.’’

However, she said Pendle Hill would fit the requirements for the grant that would provide outdoor dining space, trees, traffic calming devices and lighting.

Some Cumberland councillors say Pendle Hill lacks the vibrancy of Granville.

“Pendle Hill has great potential and it’s earmarked for quite significant increased density, it’s all needed,” she said.

Councillor Suman Saha backed the plan to save Pendle Hill’s main street that was “falling apart’’.

“It’s not really doing well at all, the businesses,’’ he said.

“You can’t even get a good quality coffee in Pendle Way, Pendle Hill. I understand that some time back that council had a plan to revitalise Pendle Hill town centre, put some plants, do the footpath work and that’s probably not going to happen in the current financial year.’’

But Cr Joseph Rahme, whose ward covers Granville, said the grant would consolidate the suburb’s main street which was a “jewel in the crown’’.

El Jannah is one of South St’s drawcards.

Granville’s main street is described as the jewel in Cumberland’s crown. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“I think this is the right time for us to strike and really nurture and get South St to a level where we take that vibrancy another notch, we encourage outdoor dining, we widen footpaths we really take that night time economy to the next level,’’ he said.

“Sometimes it’s about backing the horse that has the highest likeliness to win the race.

“The night time economy of Granville far outweighs even Merrylands.”

Pendle Way has been snubbed for an upgrade.

Meanwhile Granville’s South St is well landscaped.

The grant will go towards improved lighting along South St and potentially expanding footpaths to accommodate outdoor dining.

Liberal councillor Ned Attie said he would support Cr Lake’s suggestion but only if she agreed to support increasing heights in the centre of Pendle Hill, which she did not.

Councillors Saha, Glenn Elmore, Michael Zaiter, Kun Huang, Greg Cummings and George Campbell backed Cr Lake’s motion for Pendle Hill funding but it was lost on Mayor Steve Christou’s casting vote, which he preceded with a scolding of Cr Lake for attempting to reallocate the funds from his ward.

“Quite frankly I’m disgusted that you try to stand up here tonight and steal money from a ward that needs it,’’ Cr Christou said.

“I’m very happy that South St, Granville, will receive much-needed upgrades.’’

The ‘vibrant’ Granville town centre.

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