Bliss revved

SOUTH FREMANTLE is a blissful place to live. 

Its unique ambiance; the breeze from the ocan, the steady rhythm of the regular trains, great coffee everywhere, the variety of colourful specialised shops, outdoor dining and according to my numerous young friends it has “the vibe”.

It’s the energy, the feel of it; it seems so vibrant and, enveloping all of this, is the strong sense of community.

However, all this is marred by the sudden emergence of “gunning” cars, screaming acceleration, and throbbing loud engines. Peace and tranquility challenged!

Has anyone noticed, or become aware of this undesirable, incremental change, clear and present every night in both South and Marine Terraces?

I do not class myself as either old or complaining, but now it is both. Anyone with me?

Barbara Darling
South Fremantle

Ed says: Anyone else noticing this? Let us know at news@fremantleherald.com

Help cyclists

FREMANTLE’S cyclists have a problem with the 12 month wait until the new traffic bridge is completed.

At present cyclists cannot take their bike on the train until after 9am.

If they want to get going earlier they are forced to join other cyclist, runners and walkers on Stirling Bridge.

This is leading to crowding on the pedestrian lane of that bridge. 

The lane is just wide enough for bikes going in the opposite direction to pass. 

This means older or less experienced cyclists have to slow down or stop when passing cyclists going the other way. 

This is causing delays leading to crowding.

So what can be done to avoid crowding on the pedestrian lane.

A simple solution is to allow (and encourage) cyclists (and their bike) to ride on the train from the Fremantle station to North Fremantle station before 9am. 

There would need to be a strict rule about getting off at North Fremantle.

When the new bridge is completed with cycling lanes, this arrangement would be cancelled.

Gordon MacNish
East Fremantle.

Beached

I HAVE been a regular visitor of South Beach for the last 20 years and I am writing to express my concern regarding the lack of parking and the imminent dangers I’ve seen develop over time.

For many years, beachgoers were able to park on the oval (Wilson Park, South Fremantle) where it was often at full capacity, especially on hot days of over 40 degrees. 

This created an atmosphere of community where young families, the elderly and all sections of society could enjoy the pleasures of visiting the beach and the two surrounding cafes. 

However, due to parking restrictions now imposed on the oval and half the space available, it has become an area associated with road rage and possibly, a fatal accident waiting to happen.

On New Year’s Day when I visited South Beach, the car park was absolutely jammed with two opposite lanes of cars trying to secure a car park.

I witnessed several cars deliberately pushing in while others had been patiently waiting in the opposite lane with their indicators on. 

Parents with young children returning from the beach had difficulty returning to their cars because of the buildup of traffic blocking the route to their car. 

How long will it take until a child is run over as parents try to navigate their young children and beach gear amidst the heavy traffic flow?

The South Beach toilets were recently upgraded to serve the community on a larger scale. 

They are of a pleasing, similar design to the toilets at Orange Box Cafe, Leighton Beach. 

Yet, at Leighton Beach, there is an overflow parking within walking distance close of Orange Box Café and is open seven days of the week with no time restrictions.

It accommodates many cars, matching the community’s needs.

Why has the Fremantle council upgraded the South Beach toilets to accommodate the growing needs of the public, only to restrict the parking area for the public to use these upgraded toilets? 

In the recent upgrade at South Beach, some new car parks were added, yet they will never meet the demand of the public as compared to the open, unrestricted use of the oval. 

This has already been evident with the increase of serious traffic jams.

As Wilson Park, South Fremantle is now restricted to Saturdays and Sundays, what time is the oval opened? 

This is not displayed on the sign provided by the council. 

I rang the Fremantle council on January 5 and they confirmed that parking inspectors open the oval 8am – 8.30am.

However, I arrived recently at South Beach for a 9am swim and the oval was not open. 

The parking was horrific again with road rage present. 

It was eventually opened at 10.30am. 

Is there a roster set in place for parking inspectors to open it? 

For years, this lack of predictability has been a source of contention for members of the public and continues to this day. 

The ambiguity and irregularity are unacceptable.

Re-opening the entire oval with no time restrictions is the only solution for the traffic crisis that is now unfolding at South Beach. We certainly do not want a tragedy occurring due to a lack of action.

Nicola O’Loughlin