Push for safer High St crossing

OVER three hundred people have signed a petition calling for safer crossings along High Street at Bannockburn.

With unmarked island crossings and increasing traffic, the petition’s creator Annie Wild said the current conditions aren’t safe for the town’s more vulnerable residents.

“I was sitting once near the old town hall by the supermarkets and this elderly lady was standing at the edge of the road,” she said.

“I kept an eye on her and she was standing there for ages, so I asked her if she was alright and she said no.

“I actually had to stand in the road and stop traffic so this poor woman could get across.”

The petition calls for two light-assisted pedestrian crossings to be installed at Milton and High streets so traffic will have to give way to pedestrians.

Ms Wild is advocating on behalf of Bannockburn Inclusive Group, with many of its senior and mobility-impaired members struggling to cross the town’s main throughfare.

One member, Adam McLean, often has to move his wheelchair around the island just to cross the intersection, as he said it’s easier than driving over it.

The new $3.2 million roundabout near the rail crossing was constructed to improve safety conditions, but Mr McLean said it has only slowed down “about 50 per cent” of drivers.

“I’ve had close calls where people have raced around the corner and slammed on their breaks,” he said.

“Council and VicRoads needs to have a look at this. There’s going to be another 800 houses built in the next 12 months. The town’s just growing so fast and the infrastructure’s not here at all.

“It’s not just for people who are disabled, it’s people with young kids, it’s the elderly. People have to stop in the middle because they can’t get across safely, and that’s not right.”

With only roundabouts along the main road, Mr McLean said he would like to see two sensor pad intersections installed on High Street.

VicRoads and Rural Roads Victoria have been contacted, and Ms Wild is in talks with the community safety officer about the issue.

“It seriously needs to be evaluated because it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt,” she said.