OVER three hundred people have signed a petition calling for safer crossings along High Street at Bannockburn.<\/p>\n
With unmarked island crossings and increasing traffic, the petition\u2019s creator Annie Wild said the current conditions aren\u2019t safe for the town\u2019s more vulnerable residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was sitting once near the old town hall by the supermarkets and this elderly lady was standing at the edge of the road,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept an eye on her and she was standing there for ages, so I asked her if she was alright and she said no.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually had to stand in the road and stop traffic so this poor woman could get across.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ms Wild is advocating on behalf of Bannockburn Inclusive Group, with many of its senior and mobility-impaired members struggling to cross the town\u2019s main throughfare.<\/p>\n
One member, Adam McLean, often has to move his wheelchair around the island just to cross the intersection, as he said it\u2019s easier than driving over it.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cabout 50 per cent\u201d of drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had close calls where people have raced around the corner and slammed on their breaks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil and VicRoads needs to have a look at this. There\u2019s going to be another 800 houses built in the next 12 months. The town\u2019s just growing so fast and the infrastructure\u2019s not here at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just for people who are disabled, it\u2019s people with young kids, it\u2019s the elderly. People have to stop in the middle because they can\u2019t get across safely, and that\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n
With only roundabouts along the main road, Mr McLean said he would like to see two sensor pad intersections installed on High Street.<\/p>\n
VicRoads and Rural Roads Victoria have been contacted, and Ms Wild is in talks with the community safety officer about the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seriously needs to be evaluated because it\u2019s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s creator Annie Wild said the current conditions aren\u2019t safe for the town\u2019s more vulnerable residents. \u201cI was sitting once near the old town hall by the supermarkets and this […]<\/p>\n