Robert Fittock - outrageous!

ROBERT FITTOCK'S letter about the Fremantle Markets
(Market man, Herald letters, August2 9,2009)
is one of the most outrageous I have read for years.

He criticises a decision of his own council to investigate massive rent increases at Fremantle Markets and alleged mistreatment of stallholders by the head lessee.

He says the review was initiated by a"few"councillors "who appear to hold an unhealthy and vindictive grudge against [FremantleMarkets Pty Ltdl".

In March a special meeting of council was called. One hundred aggrieved stallholders and others turned up to vent their anger, hurt, and distress at the treatment they alleged they were getting.

Question time went on for two hours as speaker after speaker in the packed council chamber told their stories.

The mayor, along with Crs Brad Pettitt, Doug Thompson, Jon Strachan, John Alberti and Robert Fittock - all of whom had voted to give the markets to FMPL for 18 years - were absent.

Cr Fittock did turn up late but voted against investigating the alleged abuses.

Cr Fittock may like to explain who is going to paythe $4.5 million needed to fix the markets, since the lease he voted for does not require the Murdoch's to pay for it.

John Dowson
Deputy Mayor
Fremantle
Editor's note: This letter has been substantially edited for length.