AN 87-year-old man and his accordion have created a Polka craze at Windsor Mall’s Sunday craft markets, but not everyone is dancing a jig.
Market organisers have pulled stalls and some small businesses in the mall are feeling the pinch after an epic feud between management and accordion player, Aart Bark, erupted a few weeks ago.
A petition with more than 50 signatures in support of Mr Bark has been submitted to Hawkesbury Council, after the elderly musician was banned by market organisers from playing in the mall on Sundays.
Market manager, John Steel said Mr Bark’s music was too loud, and he didn’t follow market rules which required buskers to move locations every hour.
Mr Bark, who has a walking stick, said he was asked by shopkeepers to play his music as it attracted customers. It was not to make money himself.
“Why should I move, with a chair and a walking stick?’’ Mr Bark said.
“Next time I will wear my disability parking permit around my neck.”
The matter hit fever pitch when Mr Steel sent a letter to stallholders and businesses in the mall alerting them of the “very unhealthy, unpleasant and hostile situation”.
In the letter Mr Steel said he had a duty of care to avoid placing stallholders in an area of the mall that was “unhealthy, unpleasant and hostile”, and therefore banned stalls from setting up between Fitzgerald Street and the newsagent – the section Mr Bark played in.
When asked why Mr Bark couldn’t play when there were regular amplified musicians playing in the rotunda just down from Mr Bark, Mr Steel said it was his right as manager to decide who played music during the markets.
“I rent the mall off the Council each week to run the markets, and it’s my right as to how they are run,” Mr Steel said.
“This man isn’t playing his music for any other reason than to intentionally annoy market organisers.
“I am very clear to all of my stall holders that they cannot be too loud or make too much noise. If they don’t like it, they can pack up and not come back next Sunday.
“If I want a guitarist playing calm, background music during the markets, that is my right to choose as the manager.”
Owner of Cake Gallery cafe in the mall near Fitzgerald Street, Anthony Duong, started the petition in support of Mr Bark and said everyone he spoke to loved his music.
Mr Duong said his business has been devastated by Mr Steel’s decision to move the markets away from his end of the mall, saying Sunday was his best day of trade.
“Everyone loves Aart’s music,’’ Mr Duong said. ‘‘All of the locals and visitors love hearing him play.
“Because the manager for the markets doesn’t like his music they have now taken all the markets away from this end of the mall and it’s not fair for the small businesses affected.
“We are quiet six days a week and busy on Sunday with the markets. Now all because this person doesn’t like Aart’s music, the business has been taken away from us.”
The Gazette spoke with a number of other stores in the mall on the matter, but none wanted to comment on the issue.
Hawkesbury Council corporate services and governance manager, Abbey Rouse, outlined the policy for busking, which requires an application to Council. Ms Rouse said that to date, an application had not been received from Mr Bark in relation to busking in Windsor Mall.
“A noise complaint was lodged with Council this week in regards to Mr Bark’s music in Windsor Mall,” Ms Rouse said.
“Council’s compliance enforcement officers have spoken with him about the noise level and his lack of a busking permit.
“Council is aware that Mr Steel has issued letters to the stall holders of his Windsor Mall Craft Market regarding the rules and regulations of the markets. These letters were written and distributed by Mr Steel. Council did not have any input into these letters.’’
Ms Rouse said Council also sent letters to shopkeepers in the mall in July regarding the matter.
She said the letters provided information on Council’s mall policy and advised the direct contact details of Council’s property officer so any further complaints or issues could be addressed.