Walker Street business owners (from left) Peter Butts and Jamal Iqbal are upset over what they claim was a lack of consultation from council, resulting in verbal abuse and loss of trade.By Shaun Inguanzo
A STREET lighting project in Central Dandenong has resulted in a loss of trade and racial abuse for angry business owners in Walker Street who claim the council failed to notify them of the works.
The City of Greater Dandenong is undertaking a street light project to enhance Walker Street’s trade district.
But Shoes Galore owner Peter Butts and neighbouring Discount Electrical owner Jamal Iqbal were outraged when the works suddenly took place last Friday.
The pair said the works had commenced without any prior warning or notification from the City of Greater Dandenong, a claim denied by the council.
The works encroached onto the footpath, and when Mr Iqbal arrived to open his shop at 9am, he said he was unable to access the entrance as it was blocked by mounds of dirt and rubble.
Mr Iqbal said he then received a complaint phone call from an angry customer who made a racist remark to Mr Iqbal when he could not park outside the shop.
“He said ‘you bloody Indians, you don’t have any parking out the front’,” Mr Iqbal said.
“I felt bad, very bad.”
Mr Butts said he was also angry there was no notification given to traders.
“We have been quiet,” he said.
“Whether this is due to the (heat) or not, I don’t know, but with school a week away the shop should be flat chat.”
Mr Butts said works outside had initially blocked footpath access to his shop for customers walking towards the Plaza end of Walker Street, and were noisy and unsightly.
He contacted the council on Friday morning and was told by an officer that works were planned towards the end of January because any earlier date would have clashed with Christmas and Boxing Day trade.
But for the shoe seller, who relies on backtoschool business, the timing was inconvenient.
“Next time (the council) should go and do some proper consultation with retailers who are affected,” he said.
“I am all for improving and advancement, but at times that don’t disrupt business.”
Mr Iqbal said Friday was normally one of the busiest days of the week, and the works did not stop until midafternoon.
He said he estimated his shop had lost $1000 worth of sales compared to previous Friday figures because he could not open until lunchtime, when the path was cleared.
“(Council) has to plan and inform us what they are going to do, and should choose early morning or night (to do the works),” he said.
City of Greater Dandenong engineering services director Tim Tamlin said the traders had been notified of the works on 21 October and were later visited by an officer to discuss what would happen.
But he said the council would now negotiate a new time to finish the works.
“Shoes Galore has requested the remaining works be carried out once school holidays have finished and council is working with the contractor to accommodate the shop owner’s request,” he said.
