A CBD business owner has seemingly lost her battle to stop a pedestrian safety feature being installed outside her gym.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tamworth Regional Council has been installing “traffic calming measures” in the city to improve pedestrian safety, but the program has left Curves Tamworth owner Sue Cowley “devastated”.
Council’s acting director of regional services, George Shearman, said a number of alternatives were put forward, but no resolution could be reached.
“Despite every attempt to find a solution we have been unable to reach a resolution, which is disappointing but the traffic calming measures need to be installed for the safety of the majority of the community,” his statement said.
Ms Cowley believes the concrete kerb blisters council is creating right in front of her gym on Roderick St will hinder access for her clients by obstructing necessary parking spaces.
“The women who use Curves are women that have some disabilities, have some issues with mobility, but they can still work out and look after their health,” Ms Cowely told The Leader.
She was able to delay works on Tuesday by staging a sit-in on the work-site.
Once again on Wednesday she staged a small protest, but says she was asked to move on by police.
Ms Cowley says she has spoken with a number of council staff and councillors about her concerns, but she still wanted further consultation on the matter.
“I’m pretty devastated,” she said as workers fired up their power tools, digging into the kerb and road in front of her business.
“If we can get some negotiation happening today, they may be able to patch up what they’ve done so far.
“Otherwise, it’s a done deal isn’t it.”
Curves client Sonia Griffiths said she considered boycotting her gym visit on Wednesday morning.
“It will effect me, that’s where I park,” she said.
“I need a big park, I’ve got bad legs and I have to be able to open my door right out so I can get out, therefore a normal park doesn’t suit me.”
Mr Shearman said the area was an area of high pedestrian activity and that “our community has identified pedestrian safety as a priority and this work in Roderick St is a part of council’s ongoing focus to improve pedestrian safety in the CBD”.