One way traffic fears at Nicholls shops
Apr 2, 2009
Plans to upgrade the car park at the Nicholls Shopping Centre have come under fire after residents raised objections to changes in traffic conditions.
The ACT Government developed a proposal in August 2008 to improve car parking at the Nicholls shops. Residents and shop keepers had complained the car park was too narrow, making it dangerous for cars backing out and pedestrians accessing the shops.
The proposed changes include angled car parking, the introduction of three hour parking, improved lighting and additional parking spaces as part of changed traffic arrangements. These arrangements would make Paisley Street, between the Nicholls Shops car park and May Mill Close, one way and create one way access to the Nicholls Shops car park from Kelleway Avenue.
However residents of Paisley Street are concerned making the street one way will increase traffic flow, noise and devalue houses. David Bensley, who lives on Paisley Street, said he was concerned for the safety of his small children and thought the issue was about congestion rather than traffic flow. “ I bought off Kelleway in a quiet street because I wanted to be away from traffic,” Mr Bensley said. “My concern is that commercial space at the shops dictates that there should be so many spots. “We’ve got 50 spots now, and that’s what we’ll have when they’ve finished. At a conservative level there should now be about 80.” Mr Bensley said a road needed to be put in between the community centre car park and the shops. “They realise people are using that because they know parking is a problem.”
Liberal Member for Ginninderra Alistair Coe said a number of residents were very concerned they hadn’t been consulted. “The opposition firmly believe that the problem would be fixed by widening the car park.”
Labor Member for Ginninderra Mary Porter said engineers were likely to have looked into the option of widening the car park but underground services meant it wasn’t a viable option. She said as a result of objections the government had postponed the works. “Obviously people who use the car park regularly and businesses want to see an outcome that everyone is happy with,” Ms Porter said. Ms Porter said work on the footpath which linked the car park to the adjacent Gold Creek School would continue as it had no impact on parking or traffic conditions.
A community meeting to discuss plans for the car park will be held on April 29 and residents will be notified by letterbox drop and notices in shopfront windows. The location is yet to be confirmed.
Source: The Northside Chronicle – 31 March 2009.
The Chronicle is published by The Federal Capital Press Pty Ltd - 9 Pirie Street, Fyshwick.
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