Shellharbour Workers Club’s plans to transform Clifton’s Imperial Hotel into a large cafe and restaurant have sparked debate among northern suburbs residents.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Some commentators have welcomed the proposal to revamp the dilapidated pub, while others have raised concerns about the ratio of car spaces to restaurant patrons.
The campaign page “Save Clifton Hotel”, which was formed to protest WIN Corporation’s previous plans for the site and is followed by about 1500 people, commented that the plans look “like we have been sold out to the Sydney Yuppie set again”.
The page organiser has also urged residents to stage a protest by parking their cars along Lawrence Hargrave Drive between Clifton and the nearby Scarborough pub.
Parking concerns dominated comments from Mercury readers who wondered how 290 people – the maximum number of seated patrons listed in the plans – would access the venue with only 35 car spaces.
In their proposal, which is on public exhibition until December 7, the club explains there would be 12 car spaces in the northern car park, 22 in the southern and one accessible on-street space. This is an 11-space improvement of WIN’s plans.
Others – like Samantha Docherty, commenting on the Mercury story via the Northern Illawarra Facebook page – said residents should “relish the fact that a deserted and derelict building will be transformed into something beautiful”.
Likewise, Timothy Bromwich said he doubted a pub would be financially sustainable and it “would be great to see the place used again”.
“I'd rather see this place open and providing jobs for those in the northern suburbs than sitting there rotting away,” Mr Bromwich said.
“Maybe the owners could help sponsor a cycle trail and petition for better public transport to help alleviate the parking situation.”
Shellharbour Workers’ Club chief Debbie Cosmos declined to answer the Mercury’s questions about the residents’ concerns, but – in a media release – said the design was a result of “extensive community consultation”.
“It’s our aim to restore this building to its original glory, to retain the heritage features while ensuring that the environmental features of the site remain protected throughout the process.”
The release said the club had “considered” parking and would work with the council to “optimise these issues including alternative transport options aside from parking on site”.