City of Belmont slams brakes on works intended to stop rat-running through Redcliffe
The City of Belmont council has decided to stop roadworks in Redcliffe after a debate more than an hour behind closed doors.
The council closed its June 25 meeting to the public for more than an hour to consider a report on what consequences it would face if it abandoned work intended to reduce rat-running on Stanton Road through to Perth Airport.
Members of the public were called back into the meeting to hear Mayor Robert Rossi declare the council had voted unanimously to pause the works until a traffic study in the area was complete.
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The matter was kept confidential because it contained legal advice.
Council staff had recommended the city stick to its guns of installing traffic calming, including speed cushions, raised safety platforms and speed humps, on Stanton Road from Central to Epsom avenues.
Up to 16,000 vehicles have been recorded per day on Stanton Road.
But residents believe the city has decided to start the roadworks without a trial or traffic modelling and a special meeting of electors on April 29 voted for the council to abandon plans for permanent traffic calming in Stanton Road.
The City of Belmont council has decided to stop roadworks in Redcliffe after a debate more than an hour behind closed doors. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian
A spokesperson for Redcliffe residents thanked the city for “listening to the community”.
“There is no question this pause . . . will add time to the journey, but sometimes it’s more important to be sure than to be fast,” they said.
“We can do better than putting a permanent stain on our distributor road that has clear negative consequences for Stanton/Second and the side streets.
“We need to stop good families from leaving because of out-of-area traffic.”
Lighting upgrades on Stanton Road and Second Street will continue.