‘No traffic lights!’ says your correspondent. Many who grew up in more normal places just don’t get it, but I’d like to know where the concerned agitators have been over the last 30 plus years while the beachside Suffolk Park community has been lobbying and regaling the Council for a roundabout at Clifford St?
This community knows the history of past promises and attempts. The traffic multiplied, the land needed (from three separate landholders) has been developed, the cost of compensation has risen exponentially and a roundabout has become a pipe dream.
In 2017 the community asked Council to investigate traffic lights – the mythology of mass hysteria was busted. The community’s tired of waiting for a miracle multi-million dollar windfall! Far from the bank-up of ten cars referred to in one report, locals will tell you that it is not uncommon to see cars banked up back to Alcorn Street. If you, therefore, have to queue in Armstrong, Brandon or Alcorn Streets as well – forget it! Too bad if you want to go to A&E or to work!
There are questions also about the effectiveness of a roundabout, with the chaotic and dangerous queuing that would occur at the worst of times. A 2016 report to Council stated that a roundabout would deal with capacity issues for around 20 years then struggle – that’s now 2032! No report stipulates a date for traffic lights exceeding capacity!
I wonder how many, now suddenly wanting to mount a typically noisy Byron Shire minority protest, actually live behind the iron curtain and/or have to use that intersection regularly? The people plastering the poles with signs?
For those who believe that a set of traffic lights will destroy life in Byron Shire as they have known it, can I suggest, when you drive through on the southern tip of your (yearly? weekly?) trip to Ballina, practise some mindful yogic breathing while playing ‘I Will Survive!’. Many of us, here in Suffolk, sing it with everything crossed as we attempt to leave home!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
