Sydney Light Rail’s final insult to Strawberry Hills Hotel
The owners of an historic Surry Hills pub have criticised plans by Sydney's troubled light rail project to modify their heritage-listed hotel.
Strawberry Hills Hotel will need to cut the 80-year-old awning to make way for the public transport project in a move the pub’s operators have described as a "final insult"
The Hargreaves family operates the Elizabeth Street hotel and said they were furious after being told a hole would need to be cut in the awning to allow for the construction of a pole to carry overhead wires.
"For us this is the final insult, we have no say in it," said Kelly Hargreaves. "If we don't comply now, they told us they're going to be putting up a temporary concrete slab outside there that's going to be bigger and uglier than the smart pole through the middle."
The company behind the light rail development, ALTRAC, said it was in "ongoing discussions" with the hotel owners.
"Heritage experts have been engaged to assist with the modification of the awning at the hotel," a spokeswoman said. "There are numerous examples throughout the city where poles have been installed through awnings and this situation is not unique."
Sheridan Randall, 15th November 2018
