Uncertainty on zebra crossing
CALLS for a zebra crossing in Palmerin St at the front of Warwick State High School have met with a mixed reaction from locals.
The Daily News yesterday spoke to shoppers and high school parents following a story in Saturday's edition on a P&C request for improved safety for students crossing the road at drop-off and pick-up times.
But Palmerin St stores such as Supa IGA Warwick, the Warwick Hotel and the Harvey Norman centre would be affected by a loss of car parks, and the option of placing a zebra crossing where existing traffic islands were located near the Victoria St roundabout also drew safety fears.
The consensus on the street was, even though the zebra crossing seemed like a good idea, it wouldn't be of benefit to the students and parents in the long run.
One local woman said "even if the council did put in a zebra crossing in the proposed area, it still wouldn't stop cars speeding around the corner and knocking kids down".
Another local man, who declined to be identified, agreed, saying when 3pm came around, the area was "awash with cars and children, so I don't see how putting the zebra crossing would do anyone any good".
"If they put the zebra crossing further down the road near the IGA and made it a necessity that the school kids use it, maybe that would be more of use," he said.
Southern Downs Regional councillors will discuss a report from officers on the safety issue at today's general meeting, with other potential measures including a shared traffic and pedestrian zone with a 25kmh speed limit, or turning an existing painted middle island on Palmerin St into a proper "refuge" island.
