On behalf of all the travellers from West Tamworth to the CBD, I would like to protest about the RMS decision to replace the roundabout at the Marius/Fitzroy Streets intersection with traffic lights. This roundabout is the most logical way for West Tamworth motorists to access Centrepoint, by doing a U-turn at the roundabout. You could travel on another block and do a U-turn at White Street, or turn down Fitzroy Street and go into the carpark at Smith Place. The latter would mean creating a traffic thoroughfare right through a carpark, which I think is very inadvisable and dangerous. The White Street alternative is just an aggravation and an unnecessary one at that.
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I have been told by one Councillor that the RMS advised that they will fund traffic lights but not an upgrade of the roundabout. They argue that it is hard to access Marius from Fitzroy because northbound traffic approach the roundabout too fast. As a constant user of the roundabout, either doing my U-turn or leaving Fitzroy to turn left into Marius, I have to say that is a nonsense. I have never had any experience of drivers speeding through the intersection. And, if we had to travel on to White Street to do a U-turn, are drivers approaching that intersection much more well-behaved than when they get to Fitzroy Street?
I also have never seen any problems for pedestrians, who lost their designated crossing across Fitzroy Street years ago, and also manage to cross Marius Street safely. If it was a pedestrian issue, which wasn’t cited as a problem, they could always walk up to either sets of pedestrian lights on Marius Street.
It seems Council accepted the RMS offer to install lights because it would cost $250,000 to upgrade the roundabout. In that case, just leave it as is. It’s no picture but at least drivers don’t complain about too much shrubbery blocking their view as they do at some other roundabouts. As it doesn’t have such impediments, it is probably the safest roundabout in town. Maybe Council could just plant a tree in the middle. Or just forget about it and concentrate on the Fitzroy Street beautification.
Jan Morris
West Tamworth
