A BALLARAT resident is calling for a footpath to be created near Lake Esmond in Canadian, with fears pedestrians will be hit and killed by a car.<\/p>\n
The section of Larter Street between Lal Lal Street and Clayton Street currently does not have a footpath.<\/p>\n
David Crocker said there have been some close calls as pedestrians walk along the road to get to the lake.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a series of near misses where people have been knocked, we\u2019ve also had serious car crashes into light poles or fences,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m concerned someone will be seriously, seriously hurt because unfortunately we cop a lot of hooning cars along here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Crocker said many residents cannot walk along the nature strip as it is not a suitable surface.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe street has no formal footpath and there are a lot of young kids, people with motorised scooters, wheelchairs and of course the general public walking,\u201d\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are forced to walk along the road because the nature strip is too rough and quite often not mown.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Crocker has been in discussion with the City of Ballarat who\u2019s staff are currently arranging a meeting to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of City of Ballarat councillors are meeting with the residents of Larter Street about the need for a footpath in this location, in the coming weeks,\u201d said the City\u2019s director of infrastructure and environment, Bridget Wetherall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many criteria to take into consideration in regard to prioritising new footpath construction, such as land use, linkage to other paths, pedestrian catchments and bus routes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City is currently preparing its footpath strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Ballarat\u2019s footpath program for 2023\/2024 includes eight new footpaths that fit the budget of $865,000,\u201d said Ms Wetherall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge the residents to advocate for the footpath in this location, as it will be taken into consideration for the development of the upcoming Footpath Strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Crocker said he hopes following the meeting, action will be taken to construct the pathway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ideal outcome of course is that they will commit to building a formal footpath that will take people away from walking on the road,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my aim, to safeguard the public and it\u2019s not an exaggeration when I say herds of people visit here.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A BALLARAT resident is calling for a footpath to be created near Lake Esmond in Canadian, with fears pedestrians will be hit and killed by a car. The section of Larter Street between Lal Lal Street and Clayton Street currently does not have a footpath. David Crocker said there have been some close calls as […]<\/p>\n