FREMANTLE council has knocked back Sunset Events’ request for a year’s grace to get its Arthur Head tavern up and running, but director David Chitty says he’s forging ahead.

“An extension on the lease commencement date would have been helpful for the approval process ahead,” Mr Chitty told the Herald.

“However, we are still hopeful that the revised DA that scales back the project significantly based on community feedback following the trial submitted to the city on April 6, will be approved.”

At Wednesday’s full council meeting, councillors chastised Sunset for not moving quickly enough to get approvals, however a staff report hints that the revised plan might get through.

“The patron numbers for the tavern are proposed to be limited to a maximum of 400…No ticketed live music events are proposed…

“These two changes are considered to reduce any perceived amenity impacts that may have been associated with the previous DA,” the report stated.

The application for a lease extension was opposed by working artists based in studios next to the proposed J-Shed Tavern, and the inner city residents association. Both argued a tavern wasn’t in keeping with the city’s aim of creating an arts precinct at the historic reserve and would have too much impact on neighbours.

by STEVE GRANT