BATHURST West Public School’s Parents and Citizens’ Association is the latest group to throw its support behind a push to have a roundabout installed at the Mitre and Suttor street intersection.
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A car was sent hurtling over the footpath into the fence of Assumption School on November 25 last year, just 30 minutes after school-children made their way along the footpath on their way to school.
Kent and Dianne McNab, who live near the intersection, have since been petitioning council to address the problem.
“Now is the time for action. The current council must make the necessary decision and allocate funding to make a roundabout a reality.
- Kent McNab
The McNabs have collected more than 3000 signatures calling for council to change the intersection and have met with groups including the Assumption School Parents and Friends and Bathurst West Public School’s Parents and Citizens’ Association.
The Assumption School P and F wrote to council earlier this year calling for action on the notoriously dangerous intersection, and Bathurst West’s P and C did the same last week.
In the letter, P and C president Mary Ann Gould urged council to fix the intersection before a tragedy occurs.
Ms Gould said the number of pedestrians and vehicles using the intersection had increased significantly in the past 10 years and the opening of Bradwardine Road through to the Mitchell Highway had also led to a significant rise in the number of drivers using Suttor Street, especially during peak periods.
“You have the power to fix this intersection. We note commitments have been made in the past to change the situation and we ask you to allocate funds in this year’s budget to build the roundabout,” she wrote.
These sentiments are shared by the McNabs, who say their motto is to fix the intersection today to save a life tomorrow.
“We do not want council to wait until a fatality occurs,” Mr McNab said.
“Now is the time for action. The current council must make the necessary decision and allocate funding to make a roundabout a reality at the intersection in the coming financial year.”
It was revealed earlier this year that Bathurst City Council resolved in November 1999 to construct a roundabout at the intersection.
The McNabs encourage people to sign their petition, which is available at IGA, Rankin Street, Panthers Leagues Club, Moodie’s Pharmacy, Westpoint Newsagency, Bathurst Community Club, the Assumption School office, West Bathurst Primary School and Bathurst High School.