PEDESTRIANS on Ploughmans Lane are being forced to decide between risking life and limb on the road or hiking through the boggy grass on the roadside.
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Part of the road has been widened to cope with extra traffic heading to and from the Oaktree Retirement Village.
However a pinch-point has been created near the crest of a hill, people walking are pushed further onto the road as there is no footpath.
A footpath is part of plan for the road which will become part of a southern bypass in future.
The issue has attracted the attention of Councillor Neil Jones, who said there was no safe passage for residents.
He said council had recognised the issue but it needed to be re-prioritised by Orange City Council.
“I’ve raised it with the aging and access committee and raised it with council a number of times,” he said.
Cr Jones said he had been told there was no work until further road-widening had been completed.
“It’s a major safety issue, the only way people can travel safely is by car,” Cr Jones said.
“This issue stops people walking to the golf course or down to the wetlands. We have a wonderful new network of walking paths and driving defeats the purpose.”
Wentworth Golf Club’s general manager Ian Starr described the situation as “pretty poor”.
He said a footpath was needed from the Oaktree Village to the club and to the nearby wetlands.
“Yeah, it’s good for business but it’s also good for residents to get out, be active and enjoy their lives.”
Oaktree Village’s Peter Neville said it was a significant issue with many cars abiding by the 50 kilometre an hour speed limit on the road. The 26 units at Oaktree are home to residents aged from 60 to 90-years-old.
“The residents don’t feel safe, they can’t access the golf course or the wetlands,” Mr Neville said.
“It will only get worse, we’ll have 98 units eventually.”
Mr Neville said residents didn’t just want to close the door and never come out or stick to the village’s confines.
“Residents want to be active.”
Orange City Council’s spokesman Nick Redmond said there is a long-term plan for the road which includes a footpath.
“As always it needs to be weighed up against other priorities as there are limitations to budgets,” Mr Redmond said.