We the undersigned, members of the Richmond community - residents, local workers, Swan Street shoppers, customers of Richmond cafes and restaurants, and of course library and toy library members - want the Charlotte Street pocket park to be built as planned, outside Richmond library. 

We’ve supported the multiple stages of consultation. It’s been designed, trialled (traffic impact monitored and found to be minor) and the traffic engineers and council officers recommend work proceed. It’s funded in the current budget. At the Council meeting on 13 August, a motion to discontinue the road was passed, with amendments to ensure follow-up traffic monitoring. 

But after the meeting, Cr Jolly applied for a rescission motion. If it succeeds, the road discontinuance would not proceed, and the park will not be built. 

As Richmond’s population grows, and with it the need for open space, traffic is a problem we all put up with, but there are traffic-calming measures that can be taken. Most locals can walk or ride to the library and there’s public transport aplenty. 

The park would compliment an unremarkable but beloved, practical, well-used building, with community engagement limited only by imagination. For so many reasons the Charlotte Street park is a great plan. 

There are no other ‘shovel ready’ projects for new open space in Richmond, and who knows how long we’d wait for something to be designed and funded, let alone built. Once more, the Richmond community would miss out. 

For the common good, we passionately ask Councillors to vote against the rescission motion on 10th September, and proceed with the road discontinuance, so the park can be built in the 24/25 capital works program.

Please!

[Note to signees: Please ensure when signing that you put your suburb name (e.g., Richmond) in the ‘city’ box, and that your postcode is correct. Especially if you don’t live in Richmond, you can use the ‘I’m signing because…’ box to explain your connection to Charlotte Street and the local area (e.g. Swan Street shopper and Richmond library member).]