THERE is fast-growing community displeasure with the state of affairs in Fremantle. 

The visual appearance of our beautiful heritage city is one of untidiness and neglect, with many vacant shops. 

But it is not just that shops are empty, but that Fremantle council appears to be powerless to insist that empty properties are maintained and kept clean, as the disgraceful state of the former Duck Duck Bruce cafe and Map Shop in Collie street show, and so does the dirty former Hungry Jacks building on the Cappuccino Strip, that has approval to build a tavern on the site. 

And there are many other dirty buildings in other inner city streets.

Fremantle gives the impression that no one cares about it and that it is a tired city in decline. 

The few people who are still willing to invest in the port city despair, as they too fear they are wasting money on a city that is largely ignored by a Perth-centric state government. 

Major investors buy property, get plans for hotels and apartment buildings approved, but do not proceed, for all kinds of reasons. 

We are becoming the city of land banking, instead of much-needed construction. 

Fremantle is an ageing city on life support, but even feeding the life-saving drip seems too much to ask for. 

We are watching the slow suicide of a wonderful old town, because our state and local governments are failing us. 

Instead of real action we are getting spin and hyperbole.

Although voters were assured before the local government election three years ago that Fremantle council would go back to basics and maintain the footpaths better, the sidewalks in the historic West End are still a disgrace and in sections are more an obstacle course for pedestrians than a safe passage to enjoy the heritage beauty.

Fremantle fails to attract classy businesses, so we are getting more cafes, 7/11s and vape shops, while we could do with a few more and better clothing shops, especially for men.

Antisocial behaviour has been getting worse, with lots of drug affected people and those with mental health issues, screaming abuse at passers by. 

There is an overall feeling of discomfort, where one constantly feels the need of awareness of what is going on in front, behind and to the sides when one walks the streets. 

That is partly due to all social services being located in the inner city. 

That forces people to come into Fremantle in the morning and many then stay on and make a nuisance of themselves. 

That mental health patients are roaming the streets, without anyone making sure they take their medication, is another worry.

And where are the cops?! 

It is not helped either that there is hardly a visual presence of police officers and Fremantle community safety rangers on our streets any more. 

No one seems to be on the beat these days, and police bicycle patrols have also disappeared. 

It is not anywhere near good enough to park a paddy wagon at Walyalup Koort or the Cappuccino Strip for an hour in the morning, and two cops walk a bit of a round before 10am. 

After that it is good luck and tough titties if one expects some kind of safety patrols. 

You are on your own, and that can feel rather threatening, especially for the elderly and overseas visitors.

Members of the Friday Culture Club have written to Fremantle council and had a meeting with senior staff, to demand action, and the Voices4Freo group believes independent candidates at the next state election might give the major parties a wake up call and a kick in the arse, to do more and better for our ignored city. 

The Fremantle community and businesses are getting sick and tired of wrong priorities and lack of substance. 

We no longer politely ask for improvement of governance, but demand it! 

We are not a third-rate hick town, but a major tourist destination. Fremantle deserves better, a lot better!

Roel Loopers/FREOVIEW