Concerns about access to Marsden Estate, Kelso

Greg Madden wants Bathurst Regional Council to build another access point.

"The only access to all of this area, the dwellings and all of the people who live here is via Eltham Drive," he said.

"There are well over 1000 cars leaving and entering the estate each day, as well as trade vehicles, concrete trucks, buses and other service vehicles, and the chance of an accident at the pinch points increases as the number of vehicles increase.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"A simple two-car accident at the western end of Eltham Drive, or even at the western end of Graham Drive, could prevent all access to the whole area until the accident was cleared away.

"There is no other way in or out, across country, not even an all-weather access from Marsden Lane at present for any service such as police, fire or ambulance vehicles to reach the houses or the people who live here."

Council confirmed that plans to connect Marsden Estate with a new roundabout intersection with Marsden Lane and Hughes Street had been approved.

"The longer term plan is for additional road connections to Marsden Lane and Sofala Road," council's director of environmental, planning and building services Neil Southorn said.

"The connection to Marsden Lane connects with the construction of a new roundabout at the Hughes Street intersection. The subdivision stage that includes the Marsden Lane connection has been approved.

"Council is unaware of the developer's timetable for delivering the connection to Marsden Lane, but confirm that the developer has commenced work on this stage of development.

"Given the developer's intention to construct the new intersection on Marsden then gravel road would not be necessary."

Mr Southorn believes the Marsden Estate roads are able to manage their traffic.

"There may be some minor delays during certain times of the day, but the intersection continues to cater for the current volumes of traffic," he said.