Maribyrnong City Council: Footscray Hotel to ‘take its land back’ amid development, parking squeeze near Hopkins St

A gritty Footscray pub has had a win in its fight against council, with the bureacracy giving them back their car park.

The Footscray Hotel located at Hopkins St has had to contend with the increased traffic and reduced parking nearby as major developments continue to spring up.

UPDATE FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2024:

A gritty Footscray pub has had a win in its fight against council, with the bureacracy giving them back their car park.

The Footscray Hotel has been left without a carpark in recent years after the council closed it in an effort to greenify the area.

Maribyrnong Council has removed bollards to an old car park near the Footscray Hotel. Picture: Supplied

However, after a strangler fig tree was planted, the area remained a dustbowl.

After a Herald Sun story was published and council held a meeting with the pub on Thursday, council workers were spotted removing the bollards to the old carpark on Friday.

Footscray Hotel manager Sharon Kanna said she was “very grateful” to the council.

“I am so happy to have parking again,” she said.

“I just hope this is a permanent situation for us.”

Maribyrnong Council has removed bollards to an old car park near the Footscray Hotel. Picture: Supplied

THURSDAY JANUARY 4, 2024:

Tenacious management of a gritty pub in Melbourne’s west plan to take the power back after council decisions that squeezed them out of any parking space left them with no choice.

Staff, residents and regulars of the Footscray Hotel have been without parking spots in recent years after development decisions from Maribyrnong City Council forced them to stop in loading zones and risk fines daily.

Pedestrians passing by the Hopkins St venue over the new year period spotted bold signage that declared the pub was “taking its land back” and alluded to a protracted struggle with the council over parking near its site.

Footscray Hotel management have notified pedestrians the footpath could soon close. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Signs along the thoroughfare between the pub and the train lines warned pedestrians the walkway would close soon to give staff somewhere to park.

“No access will be available due to council taking all car spaces away from the front and back,” it said.

“We are taking our land back, blame the council.”

The section, which splits Wightman St in two, belongs to Footscray Hotel.

Staff parked out front for years before the council installed bollards to beautify the area. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Staff parked out the front for years before the council installed bollards and spent thousands “beautifying” the area by planting trees.

The trees did not last as they were planted alongside a ‘Strangler fig’ tree, but their demise initially prompted accusations they had been poisoned, according to staff.

While the trees are long dead and the area has deteriorated, the bollards remain.

Staff and patrons then parked out the back of the venue but as hundreds of apartments continue to be built in the changing area, the entire street became a no standing zone and left them nowhere to park, besides a loading zone on the driveway.

Much of the precinct surrounding Hopkins St has been snatched up by developers. Picture: Nilsson Jones

Footscray Hotel manager Sharon Kanna said they were offered a single parking permit but questioned where it would be used as residents of nearby high-density apartments battled daily for a spot.

“It is like they are trying to close us down, they want to get all of these apartments up and they don’t care about the small businesses around them,” Ms Kanna said.

“They have left us no choice, I really don’t want to close off that footpath as we are happy for locals to go through but we need to have somewhere safe, close and free to park.

Manager Sharon Kanna outside the blocked off area where staff once parked. Picture: Nilsson Jones

“There is now literally nowhere to park in that street, there is the loading zone where council can book us at their delight but it’s not a nice place to stop as bat droppings ruin any car below that tree.”

For the eight residents, three staff and many regulars, the solution is very simple, they say.

“Just let us park where we used to, all the council would need to do is remove four of the bollards, we will clean it up and maintain the space like we always did,” Ms Kanna said.

The Herald Sun was told the council has arranged to meet with hotel management in the coming days.

Maribyrnong City Council was contacted for comment but could not meet deadline.