Divert lorries to Waterfront Drive

Margot, Knysna:

Lorries should only be allowed to drive along Waterfront Road. There are very few people crossing this road and mostly at dedicated robots. If they have a problem with lorries turning at the top at the traffic lights back onto the N2, fix it!

There are hundreds of people crossing Main Road at all areas up to the post office because of all the businesses situated on both sides in the centre of town during the day and night. There should also be more pedestrian crossings made available, especially where there is more foot traffic and reason for people to cross the road. This would also slow down the traffic. Maybe put some traffic bumps in the road that are used as pedestrian crossings at the same time, as vehicles will have to then slow down anyway. This is what was done along Beach Road in the Strand.

I have watched (and taken photo's) of lorries which have to pass each other at a standstill and literally have millimeters to spare between them. The road is just not wide enough for these huge vehicles and I am sure it was not built for them either.

My suggestion is, in conjunction with “upgrading” Grey Street, do something about Main Road by bringing it back to its former glory. That will/could only happen with redoing the pavements and street. Grey Street is a safety hazard for your vehicle anyway – a 4x4 is needed to navigate all those potholes. It actually is an embarrassment and a disgrace to see the state that Knysna's streets and roads are in. Part of the huge pavement in front of Denmar Centre can be utilised for sideways parking. This will create more parking bays which will benefit the businesses along this road. The same type of parking as at the chemist further down towards the post office.

Local residents are doing their utmost with the beautiful pots and plants they are maintaining at high cost to themselves in Main Road. Surely the municipality can see that something needs to be done to this street? This will also have an effect on minimising the vagrants, drinking of alcohol in the streets, vagrants sleeping on the pavements (a huge problem at Fechters – every morning they have to wash the greenery in front of their shop as it is used as a sleeping place and toilet). In Cape Town, people are discouraged to give handouts to vagrants and they advertise via flyers and posters at businesses where people can donate to and where the shelters are for the homeless.

And what about these horrible plastic rubbish bins that were put out in place of the beautiful old wooden ones that were removed? They really created part of the Knysna feel. I watched as they put these plastic bins out in Main Road – they were old ones from somewhere – the cockroaches were creeping out all over from underneath!

How many more people have to die before something is done? What can be done to start a campaign regarding this issue?