WARRNAMBOOL’S controversial pedestrian crossings are under the council spotlight.
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At Monday’s council meeting Warrnambool dentist Angie Paspaliaris asked a public question about the crossings and presented a petition with more than 5800 signatures calling for their removal.
She said the introduction of pedestrian crossings at the Liebig/Lava and Liebig/Koroit street roundabouts were causing confusion, danger and major congestion.
“The way that they work is not pedestrian friendly,” she said.
“Nearly 6000 people have said they don’t like them. On paper things look good sometimes, but in real life it can be dangerous. I’m all for consultation, but what about feedback after implementation?”
Ms Paspaliaris said due to the crossings there was an increased number of residents and tourists avoiding the Liebig Street area, which was the opposite aim of the city centre renewal project.
CEO Bruce Anson addressed the question, saying the crossings came about after extensive community consultation where residents said they wanted a pedestrian friendly CBD.
“That is a CBD that is welcoming to the aged, people with disabilities and young families,” he said.
“It is acknowledged that improving pedestrian safety results in inconvenience to some car users, but change is always a challenge. People need to safely enter the roundabout and it has been designed to allow room for people entering into and exiting it.”
He said it was not proposed by council to remove the pedestrian priority at roundabouts as the priority was safety.
Ms Paspaliaris said she would present the petition for consideration on the agenda by the council for next month’s meeting.