Town of Victoria Park | Peter Fletcher

Councillors of Victoria Park, it’s time to come clean

April 15, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

Councillors of Victoria Park, it’s time to come clean and tell us where you stand on the issue of paid parking. Your constituents are tired of your weasel words, fed up with being kept in the dark, and angered by your silence.

It’s time to start speaking in a language we understand.

So that there is no confusion here are two examples of what’s causing so much anger and resentment in our community.

First is the case of Councillor Vicki Potter who just today shared a link on her Facebook page to a Southern Gazette article supportive of paid parking. Along with the link Councillor Potter added “Wow! A different point of view.”

But what does “A different point of view” mean? To whom is it different? Why is it different? Does she support its difference or reject its reasoning. The way it’s written the statement could be taken to mean “Wow, finally someone who understands the issues. I hope the plebs are reading this.” But I can only speculate because the councillor hasn’t come clean about where she stands on the issue.

And that’s what I want – to know where our councillors stand. I don’t want polispeak, I want clear, unambiguous, unequivocal language that tells me what these so-called leaders value and believe.

Instead of that we’re being fed a torrent of words that say a lot but tell us nothing.

Councillor Potters response to people who added a comment to her post provide an example of what the community doesn’t want or need. She states: “I am currently in a meeting in council meeting (sic) and we are just about to discuss parking. We are expecting a long night. I think everyone has misunderstood me if they think I or the rest of the council are not taking the feed back of our community seriously. We are trying to get a decision made as soon as possible to make changes to improve the current situation. It has been our highest priority, and we are not prepared to put it off for a 6 month review. I was just surprised at this article.”

See, lots of words but it doesn’t tell you, me or anyone where she stands on the issue. What I see is a commitment to talk about the issue but with no clear intention.

And then there’s Mayor Trevor Vaughan’s public comment on this blog. In part he states “…The Councillors and myself are listening to our community. We are looking at making changes to the parking restrictions at a special council meeting on Tuesday 6 May. We will be addressing the 12am time and the first 15 minute free and other aspects of the parking plan. These seem to be the major issues that are concerning businesses.” Like Councillor Potter, Mayor Vaughan fails to tell us what he’s fighting for. I get – and appreciate – that he’s taken the time to acknowledge community concerns about the parking policy, but I want to know what he’s championing. If Council was deadlocked which way would he be voting?

And I don’t just want this from Councillor Potter and Mayor Vaughan – I want this from all of our councillors. We deserve better than we’re getting right now. We deserve to know what your thinking and how you intend to serve our needs.

Come on councillors, it’s time to come clean and tell us where you individually stand on the issue of paid parking.

Stop writing for an audience, write for yourself

April 14, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

Today, after more that 600 attempts, I finally saw one of my blog posts perform like the content marketers tell you will happen. Until today I’ve been writing posts about social media and email marketing and Michel Foucault with little to no reaction. Sure, some of my close friends have said about a few of my posts “That’s an amazing story Pete. You should write these more often.”

But aside from that, nothing.

Then, last night, I penned a rant about the Town of Victoria Park’s parking policy. I’d tried to write that story before. I tried to write it on rational grounds, as a cogent, thoughtful argument, but it came up bland – so bland that it was never published.

Then I met with my writing coach. John told me to put myself into the story. What mistake did you make on your journey? What strongly held belief did you have to give up? What obstacle did you have to overcome to achieve your goal?

So that’s what I threw into the story. I told about my efforts to get something as simple as storage for a bag of soccer balls at the local soccer club. I told about my disgust at being charged for parking when all I wanted was a simple cup of coffee. I got angry and I let that anger be known.

Then I hit the go button. Before I went to bed the post had already achieved hundreds of views, and when I woke this morning the views were still climbing. (As I write this it’s been viewed over over 2000 times, a record for my site.) Along with the views came the reactions on social media. Hundreds of Facebook likes, comments and shares (as of writing this story it was 557) showed that I’d struck a nerve. Even the local Mayor got involved adding a comment defending his Council’s management of the local playing field and claiming to be listening to his constituents.

Am I pleased all of this happened because of something I wrote? You bet I am. I hope it happens again. And I hope that one day I’ll look back on this post and be a little embarrassed I was proud of ‘only’ 2000 views.

But more importantly I’m proud that I had the insight to know my mind and the courage to speak my truth. In writing the post I didn’t give a rats arse what people thought. I wrote for me. I wrote to express where I was at and I wrote to improve my craft as a writer.

And that’s something I’ll continue doing.

Town of Victoria Park: I’ve had enough

April 13, 2014 by Peter Fletcher

If you’re thinking about visiting the Town of Victoria Park to enjoy one of it’s many excellent coffee shops or eating houses, think again. Why? Because as of a bit over a month ago the local council imposed on local businesses and their customers one of the most draconian, absurd and regressive parking policies ever seen in the metropolitan area.

Their policy is to place parking meters along the full length of the Albany Highway strip and in most of the side streets. Parking will cost you $1.50 per hour with the first 15 minutes free. Unlike pretty much anywhere else in Perth, paid parking starts at 8am and ends at midnight–yes, that’s right, midnight!–seven days per week.

Now, if you’re thinking that I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, you’re right. Here’s why.

I’m the President of the newly formed Victoria Park Soccer Club. As a new club we’re struggling for resources, struggling for sponsors (if you’re keen, let me know) and struggling to get the support of established local clubs with whom we’re required to share resource. So today I dropped in to ask the Perth Royals if we could use their club rooms at JA Lee Reserve to store our bag of training balls. It didn’t seem like a big request but I soon got the impression they were less than keen to assist. Darren, the guy serving in the canteen and a club stalwart, explained why.

“Look, Peter, we’d love to help you but the local council aren’t giving us any reason to do that. Let me explain. Eight years ago we installed the pitch lights. They weren’t cheap. Now the Council have taken them back so they can sell the use of the grounds to other clubs so they can train at night. We still pay for the electricity but they get the ground rental fee. Tell me how that’s fair!”

I nodded in agreement. “It doesn’t sound fair at all,” I said.

“We pay $7500 a year to rent these facilities but we still have to beg the council to spend money on re-turfing the pitch in front of the goals. The want the money but they’re just not willing to do anything for it,” he explained.

“So, Peter, until we get some co-operation from the local council, we can’t help you. I hope you understand.”

I told him I did and wished him well.

After I left it got me thinking about the issue of paid parking and how the local council has lost it’s way. For who really benefits from paid parking? Local businesses? Hardly. If the council were serious about people overstaying their allocated time limit they’d tell the parking attendants to get off their arse and go write some tickets. Selling tickets does nothing more than glosses over a lack of productivity on the part of ticket writers. Consumers? Not at all! Now, if you want to drop into a local cafe for a coffee you’ll pay 4 bucks for the brew and another 2 for parking. Anyone up for that? Nope, didn’t think so. And who wants to–or thinks its fair to be forced to–go and buy a ticket when you go out for dinner when there are dozens of empty bays available? Once again, no-one’s raising their hand.

No, the only beneficiaries of paid parking is the local council through increased revenue. If that revenue flowed directly through to the community I might be a fan. But I’m not because that’s not what’s happening. Instead, the extra revenue is creating more jobs at Council house, more rules and regulations, and a place that’s decidedly less easy to live in.

So, just what’s happening here? My belief is that the local council–and particularly the Councillors because they’re the ones that should be calling the shots–have lost touch with the real needs of the local community. They’ve lost touch with needs of local volunteer organisations who want to create places where people can play and have fun without their members being forced to spend a fortune. They’ve lost touch with local shoppers who want to go to the pub on Sunday afternoon and not have to worry about their parking ticket running out. And they’ve lost touch with what it really takes to run a local small business.

It’s time for the local council to pull their heads out of their collective you know wheres and start paying attention. Because I for one have had enough. And I know I’m not alone.

Councillors of Victoria Park, it’s time to come clean

Stop writing for an audience, write for yourself

Town of Victoria Park: I’ve had enough

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