In 2011, Armidale Dumaresq Council finalised my request for a set-down/pick-up space next to the post office in Faulkner St especially so that disabled members of the community could reach the CBD to attend to business and socialise with the rest of the community in the mall.
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The need for such a drop-off space for those with walking difficulties is that first, allocated parking areas are too distant from the CBD for the “walking wounded” and second, social interaction for such members of the community is very important, hence the need to be within reach of coffee shops.
It took 12 months of lobbying and appealing to achieve the establishment of the Faulkner St no parking space. However, the space is only 5.55 metres long.
Compare this to the average length (5m) of a standard SUV or Holden/Ford stationwagon and you will realise that the driver or carer has only 0.55 metres – less than two common school ruler lengths – in which to manipulate their car into the parking lot and then to get the disabled chair or walking device out from the rear and assembled.
To add to this difficulty, the local traffic committee installed a bollard on the blister, making reversing into this very short space almost impossible without threatening damage to one’s vehicle.
Thus I asked council at their general meeting on July 28 if the no-parking space could be lengthened and the bollard removed.
Mr Steller was asked if that was possible and, on his assent, the go-ahead was given.
On later inquiring when the community might expect to see the space lengthened and the bollard removed, I received the following reply from Mr Steller: “Following the Monday night July council meeting, I asked David Maunder to take the issues you raised to the local traffic committee meeting on 5 August, where it was placed on the agenda and discussed.
“David Maunder has discussed possible solutions with Mr Terry Orvad, RMS traffic and safety officer, on the committee.
“The parking space does comply with parking standards; however, they do acknowledge that the space is difficult to manoeuvre into when reverse parking.
“Mr Orvad and Mr Maunder will report back to the committee on 2 September with a solution for the committee to consider and a recommendation will be made to council on 22 September 2014.
“There should be sufficient funds in council’s traffic facilities program for any approved works within the fortnight following the September council meeting.”
There is no mention of lengthening the Faulkner St space in the minutes to the ADC general meeting September 22, which included a report from the local traffic committee on September 2.
It is well past the timeframe outlined in Mr Steller’s email above.
As yet there has been no alteration to the situation in Faulkner St at the no-parking space next to the post office.
