Suffolk Park residents are calling for an urgent halt to Council plans for traffic lights in Suffolk Park.
In a statement provided to The Echo, residents say, ‘The Keep the Flow in Suffo group has been formed in response to the Byron Shire Council’s knee-jerk vote in favour of installing traffic lights at the Clifford Street-Broken Head Road intersection’.
‘The group has started a petition calling for a rescission motion, while the Council thoroughly investigates a roundabout as an alternative solution at the site.
The petition can be found at form.jotform.com/243517591400856.
They say’, ‘Councillors voted 5-4 on November 14 to accept a federal government grant for traffic lights as an “interim measure”, while it investigates a roundabout as a preferred long-term solution’.
‘Councillors also acknowledged consultants’ reports that traffic lights would worsen traffic flow at the intersection, and be an inferior long-term option to a roundabout.
Roundabout
‘However, the Keep the Flow in Suffo group wants a roundabout investigated thoroughly before work proceeds on traffic lights.
‘Why waste taxpayers’ money on planning for and installing traffic lights that could require road-widening, land acquisition and removal of native vegetation while worsening traffic flow and destroying the character of the southern entrance to the shire? Lights don’t belong in the Shire,’ said the group.
‘The community has campaigned against traffic lights for over 25 years. We will not be pressured into giving up on our long-held values because of a questionable grant that Council staff were time-pressured to vote hastily upon (grant was accompanied by an unrealistic two-week time-line from the Council meeting, otherwise withdrawn) without consulting obvious solutions and communicating openly with the greater community’.
‘Keep the Flow in Suffo acknowledges that some residents have expressed support for lights, because they believe “something is better than nothing”.
‘We understand their frustration towards action, but lights, whether smart or dumb, are not the solution. We respect the Suffolk Park Progress Association, and are very aware of their involvement towards this agenda.
‘We acknowledge and understand their frustration and plight for a solution. We support their overall agenda but remain focussed towards the most viable and long-term solution for the community’.
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