Petition wants heavy vehicle access in Winchelsea preserved

SOME businesses in central Winchelsea are urging the Surf Coast Shire not to make any changes to Hesse Street that prevent access to the street’s loading bay.

Councillors resolved to accept a petition with 13 signatures at their meeting on Tuesday this week.

According to the petition, WorkSafe contacted a business on Hesse Sreet after a complaint by one of the street’s residents, regarding the width of the loading bay, gradient and general traffic issues.

“We as a business, along with many others in the same shopping centre precinct, have concerns about possible restrictions from semi-trailer and heavy vehicle access to Hesse Street, which will heavily impact all businesses logistically and commercially.

“The community needs assurance that Hesse Street, which is zoned Commercial, won’t be affected by such actions and that [the] council will assist in finding a reasonable solution and fix the issues surrounding the loading bay.”

The petition suggests making the loading bay at least 1m wider and using a spotter when trucks turn around.

Speaking at the meeting, Cr Adrian Schonfelder thanked the Winchelsea community for bringing the issue to the shire’s attention.

“Businesses, along with many others in the shopping strip precinct, have concerns about any restrictions to the availability or the fact that semi-trailers will be allowed to access that loading bay,”

“Our towns are changing and Winchelsea is forecast to grow quite substantially, I might add.

“I believe that having a loading bay is very important, particularly one that has heavy vehicle access to Hesse Street.”

He said semi-trailers not being allowed to operate would have a heavy logistical impact on all businesses.

“I put to the council that in Torquay, for instance, if semi-trailers were not allowed to access loading bays, how would Torquay function?”

Officers will present a report on the petition to the council within the next three months.