WHEN residents of Kelso's Press Court contacted Bathurst Regional Council with concerns about near misses while turning into their cul-de-sac, they were hoping action would be taken.
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But the residents say council's decision to install a traffic island is the wrong one.
The residents say the traffic island, which straddles Press Court and Wentworth Drive, won't solve the restricted vision problems when turning into the cul-de-sac and might even make those problems worse.
Council, however, says the island will "provide a guide" for drivers turning into the cul-de-sac.
The intersection of Press Court and Wentworth Drive ...
Press Court's Cheryl Weiss said residents originally contacted council to say vehicles parked on the bend on Wentworth Drive meant those trying to turn into the cul-de-sac could not see oncoming traffic.
To get a clear view of oncoming traffic, she said, those turning had to first veer on to the wrong side of the road.
Photos and video of the problem area were provided and council said it would investigate, according to Ms Weiss.
But the traffic island that has since been installed, she said, goes too far into Wentworth Drive and is at an angle that means vehicles turning into Press Court will have to go further out around the corner than they did before.
"It should not be so far out into the street," she said.
Council's engineering services director Darren Sturgiss said the traffic island was installed in response to concerns expressed by Press Court residents about restricted vision.
"The traffic island was built to increase safety by providing a guide for drivers who are turning into Press Court," he said.
In terms of the traffic island being made smaller, he said the island was designed to "Australian Standards to ensure drivers have accurate line of sight when making a turn".