SOMETIMES, ratepayers of Gawler must be left dumbfounded by decisions made by council.
Take for instance a commercial property being approved in a residential area right on a corner where three roads meet.
Apparently notification was sent to residents of Jacob St for 60m from the proposed project.
Pity one side of the road is back yards of homes in Finniss St and on the other side the homes are rental so property owners may not even be aware of this dangerous situation.
Notification should have been given to the whole of Jacob St because it affects every resident as far as traffic, parking and safety along this narrow road.
Example – van (and yes approval was for two vans but I have counted at least five parked on the property) wants to exit this property onto Jacob St (just back from the entrance to Jacob St).
There are cars parked on both sides of the road. One car is coming from the Foodland end to go to the oval, one car is coming from the primary school and wants to go down Jacob St.
No room to move, sorry! One of the cars has to back up to allow the other car to drive through.
It was a good thing no one was coming down the hill, then there would have been an interesting problem to solve.
Problems of cars parking both sides of the road when the building was being built has been solved thank goodness.
Now though, cars are parking further and further down one side and also both sides of Jacob St, effectively making this a one way street.
This can easily be solved by appropriate signage making Jacob St a one way street all the way from this commercial property to Foodland.
Travelling would become easier and safer.
But no, despite many emails to Council regarding this unsafe problem, nothing has been done, from what I gather nothing will be done.
There will be a serious accident at this three way intersection because of the parking situation.
Who should be held accountable?
According to queries with Council, photos I have sent them to show the dangerous situation is legal.
Well, well, it may be legal but is it right for the drivers who have to negotiate this area now and hope for the best?
Next problem – a workshop next to this commercial premises.
No wonder there are properties already on the market for sale.
What was once a quiet area for retirees and pensioners is going to get busier, more unsafe and noisier.
Does anyone care for these elderly pensioners and retirees who just want a quiet life?
No more quiet life I think.
Annette Pethick, Jacob St resident, Gawler
