By Marcus Uhe
Comprehensive feedback from the Coastal Villages community has seen the City of Casey abandon a proposal to close vehicular access to a pair of laneways in Tooradin.
Tooradin residents were contacted by the council in August, seeking feedback on a proposal to declare laneways 7I, between Foreshore Road and Mickle Street and 14I, connecting Mickle Street and Lyall Street, pedestrian and cyclist use only, following a safety assessment and subsequent recommendation by council officers.
Under the proposal, removable bollards were to be installed to enable emergency services to access to lanes.
“Council had proposed closing the laneway to vehicles in response to resident safety concerns raised in May 2022,” Manager City and Asset Planning, Keri New said.
“However, following further community consultation, the decision has been made to keep these laneways open to vehicles and install signage to support the safe shared use of these laneways by cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
“We will continue to monitor the laneways and review the need for additional traffic safety measures if required.”
Tooradin resident Ross Wilkie praised both the community, for voicing their views, and to the Council, for acknowledging their concerns.
“We had a petition with 100 signatures and everyone concerned about it wrote individual letters to the council,” Mr Wilkie said.
“The historical society pointed out the historical significance of them to the area.
“I was worried that they (the council) would just ignore us but I think they saw the logic, particularly the danger of people having to cross the highway to access the shops.”
