PARKING MAD: One of many examples of drivers blatantly ignoring a no-stopping sign in front of the Byng Street Local Store on the intersection of Byng and Clinton streets observed by a nearby resident.
A RESIDENT living near the busy Byng and Clinton streets intersection is convinced there will be an accident unless Orange City Council does something to fix ongoing traffic and parking problems.
The resident, who did not wish to be named, said he has written to council three times including one addressed specifically to the traffic committee enclosing photos showing patrons of the cafe parked illegally on a number of occasions including across his driveway.
Traffic near the intersection has got busier since the Byng Street Local Store opened last year, the resident said, but he also sees cars speeding along Clinton Street.
“It’s not the business I’m up in arms with it’s the people who abuse the system,” he said.
“I’m amazed the council have not come up and had a yarn and talked over the issues.
“It only takes one accident to create a problem.”
The resident said on one occasion he had threatened to call the police after a driver had refused to move his car from blocking his driveway.
Traffic committee chairperson Cr Peter Hetherington said a number of residents had contacted him about traffic and parking in the area.
“There has been a lot of new traffic impacting on the driveways,” he said.
He said he did not support increasing parking officer patrols in the area but said council would look at the parking zones at the site.
Council spokesman Nick Redmond said parking officers would begin random patrols of the area as problems were caused by compliance issues with existing signs and fines of $200 or more would be issued.
“They’re not complying with the most basic traffic rules,” he said.
He said he “didn’t know what people were thinking” to park across residential driveways in the area.
“It’s pretty ordinary behaviour,” he said.
The resident said he was especially concerned because of the two aged care facilities nearby which means “elderly people on gophers are intermingled” with the extra traffic.
“I’m just concerned that something is going to happen,” he said.
“I can’t get a park outside my own house and visitors can’t come anymore.
“We’ve had our lifestyle interrupted.”
Jeremy Norris from Byng Street Local Store said he had noticed passing traffic speeding past his store at “3000 miles an hour” but drivers weren’t necessarily disobeying the road rules.
“I don’t see how anything can be done about parking,” he said.
“Obviously what once was a quiet street isn’t so quiet.”
clare.colley@ruralpress.com