HAVING been discussed and debated for years, the issue of improving pedestrian safety in Kelly St Scone has proven to be divisive, controversial and emotional with strong, passionate opinions on both sides.
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is removing pedestrian crossings from busy multi-lane roads throughout NSW and offered two solutions to the people of the Upper Hunter recently.
The community had until last Friday to send in submissions regarding option 1 which would see the replacement of the roundabout with traffic lights or option 2 which would see the roundabout stay with lane changes and the installation of pelican lights 30m north and west of the intersection.
The Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry has objected to the installation of traffic lights since the idea was first brought up and recently conducted a survey of the community preference for option 1 and option 2.
Several members of the community attended an Upper Hunter Shire Council Meeting on Monday night and the public gallery was almost full when the Kelly St issue came up for debate.
Throughout the speeches, there was applause and the occasional boo, from the gallery in response to the councillor’s statements.
The loudest support was for keeping the roundabout and many frustrated people walked out when the council voted to support option 1 and the installation of traffic lights at a vote of five to four.
A few people did stay for the rest of the meeting.
Among those in the gallery watching the proceedings was Bev Atkinson who has campaigned against the introduction of traffic lights in Scone for several years.
“The sense of betrayal was very strong when the crowd walked out of the council meeting in protest, after the vote for traffic lights,” Ms Atkinson said.
Ms Atkinson said she felt community evidence and the survey were being illogically and determinedly ignored by those who wanted traffic lights.
“We saw an apparently blind commitment to something the councillors seem not to know much about,” she said.
“They still don’t know how long we would wait if we bother to cross at lights, or what happens when trains pass.
“There was no attempt to refute the bad accident record at lights, or personal testimonies to councillors. These were not even mentioned.”
The Scone Chamber of Commerce was also disappointed after the council meeting.
Chamber president Stephen Bell said the decision completely goes against the wishes of the community as tabled by the survey.
“The Chamber of Commerce wants the Scone community to rest assured we will continue to engage the community on the issues that affect the businesses and people of Scone,” Mr Bell said.
Mr Bell said while he felt it was disappointing that the council ignored the wishes of the electorate, the RTA must be thanked for the consideration they have shown, in particular designing alternative plans to the central traffic lights in response to the community wishes.
In its submission to the RTA the Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested modifications to option 2 which it preferred.
The chamber suggested the RTA insert another controlled mid block crossing on the southern approach to the Kelly and Liverpool St intersection, have the Pelican lights located between 75 and 100m from the intersection on Kelly St.
The chamber also wanted the RTA to modify the proposal to maintain two lanes of traffic right through Kelly St, as much as possible and construct a pedestrian refuge with clear passage on Liverpool St, east of Kelly Street.
“The practical experience is that pedestrians do not make a point of walking to the current pedestrian crossing on Kelly St and we do not see how, by having even four directions of controlled crossings, pedestrians will change their habits and walk to the intersection to cross Kelly St,” the submission said.
Upper Hunter Shire mayor Lee Watts said the council rejected the comments by the Chamber of Commerce .
“The chamber’s submission to the RTA lacks an understanding of the main issue of pedestrian safety and the need to improve safety for all pedestrians,” Cr Watts said.
Cr Watts said the survey did not present a balance position.
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