CROSSING CONCERNS

IT’S only a matter of time before someone is injured using the newly-installed pedestrian crossing in Pakington St, a frequent shopper fears.

Poor signage and low visibility due to parking spaces within metres of the crossing has prompted resident David Oswell to call for urgent changes.

“The car parks on the approach to the crossing are just too close,” he said.

“People on the street see that it is a pedestrian crossing, step out from behind a parked car and people driving along the road can’t see them.”

Mr Oswell said he had seen multiple near-misses at the crossing since they were first installed due to low visibility for pedestrians and drivers.

The crossing was installed by Geelong City council two months ago to “improve pedestrian safety across Pakington St”.

Instead of installing a raised crossing straight away, the council opted to install flat crossings to trial how traffic along the busy street would be affected.

It is the flat nature of the crossing that is causing some concern.

Mr Oswell said signing needed to be improved and car spaces removed from next to the crossing to make the area safe. “It’s only a matter of time before someone is injured,” he said.

City of Greater Geelong director City Services Guy