June 6th, 2024Islands in a stream of public opinion
Prompting plenty of public opinion, the current trial of pedestrian islands at the intersection of Fraser and Service Streets in Clunes will continue through to August 4 the Hepburn Shire Council says.
The trial has been inspiring plenty of conversation and mixed responses from the community which will have the opportunity to formally provide input, with the council planning to call for feedback in response to the trial in July.
The council says that if there is strong support from the community for the pedestrian islands, it will look at options for upgrading to a permanent solution in future budgets.
If there is little support for the pedestrian crossing, the area will return to its previous layout with no affect to the area, the council says.
Installed last month, the “pin down” islands form refuge points for pedestrians attempting to cross the road and follow calls for a safer pedestrian crossing in the township, the council says.
The trial is part of the council’s wider Clunes Streetscape project with new streetlights at the pedestrian crossing, on the supermarket and creek side of the intersection also planned to improve safety there.
The pedestrian island trial has drawn criticism from some like local resident Kate Edwards who, in a letter to The Local pointed out that there had been no recorded fatalities to date, and rating the traffic islands as a blight on the town’s wide historic streetscape
“Despite no reports of people being run over in town they (the council) have to act on the perceived danger spot and … Clunes (has) received some very ugly, brightly painted traffic islands at the main entrance to our famous, historic, widely photographed streetscape,” Ms Edwards said.
“The council says they are only there for a trial period. I assume that if there are no pedestrian fatalities in the next six months, they will be deemed successful and stay, regardless of the fact there were no fatalities before they arrived.
“There is also now the added pressure of a catch22 situation where if they are removed due to public outcry, some silly human will decide to get hit by a car and sue the council for removing them.
“Our town’s lovely deep death-trap gutters and all those unmaintained shop verandas will be the next to go and don’t forget to chop down all the trees that might fall on us. Be careful what you wish for!”
But others believe the trial is warranted with pedestrians often left confused as to the safest crossing point at the intersection, and reports of occasionally erratic and unpredictable driving at the site, one of the busiest in Clunes.
Local councillor Tessa Halliday was among many to delve into the issue in social media posts stating: “if the community finds this helpful in achieving better pedestrian safety then they will replace these with permanent outstands that suit the heritage streetscape. Likely the concrete would be bluestone edging or the like.”
“I think it is worth seeing what is possible and what we can live with in order to keep our most vulnerable community safe,” Cr Halliday said.
Words & Image: Eve Lamb
More information was available at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/clunes-crossing
