General News
17 August, 2024
Council's U-turn on wombat crossings
A flood of complaints has forced Horsham Rural City Council to take a U-turn on its controversial "wombat" pedestrian crossings.
Temporary rubber strips were installed in an effort to make the city's central business area safer for pedestrians.
Instead they attracted frustration and anger as people found the ridges on the crossings difficult to negotiate - especially for people on mobility scooters or walkers and people with pushers or prams.
They were also a tripping hazard for pedestrians.
Motorists, too, found the height of the crossings a nuisance.
Council at first responded by laying sand in place of the rubber strips, but this was removed within days because it only added to difficulties for pedestrians and mobility scooter drivers crossing the road.
People also resented the loss of car parking places removed to make way for the crossings.
While not evoking quite the level of angst caused when council introduced its new parking meters last year, the issue came in a close second.
At least two groups, Horsham Mobility Group and a council-formed Older Persons Advisory Committee were quick to inform the council of their disappointment.
Council has now announced it will make more changes at the Firebrace and McLachlan Streets roundabout crossings, which it says will happen within weeks.
They include:
• Replacing the raised-hump wombat crossings with road-level zebra crossings
• Installing speed cushions before zebra crossings to slow down approaching cars
• Enhancing signage and awareness by adding "Give way to pedestrians" signs
They may also consider the installation of flashing lights.