Pedestrians have been hit or narrowly missed by cars at the
Redfern and George Street
intersection, which has been temporarily altered during recent works on the
upgrade. Peter Aspres, who runs a business near the intersection, told the SSH
that he had seen a woman “walk into the intersection and collide with a car”.
Other business owners and locals also said they had witnessed people almost hit
because the normal four lanes had been reduced to two, causing confusion.
In response to concerns, the Sydney City Council erected
signs to warn pedestrians to be more careful, although some locals claim that
they are not easy to see.
While the work may be causing challenges for pedestrians, it
is also taking away parking places for cars.
With less spots on Redfern
Street, local business is feeling the pinch.
Aspres, whose video business partially relies on people
driving there, says he has lost half his revenue during the recent work. While
he accepts this as part of the upgrade process, he says the movement of a bus
stop, contrary to what was planned, reduced the parking opportunities even
further.
In response to his concerns, the Council had the bus stop
moved back, but Lord Mayor Clover Moore
has acknowledged that local business will find it hard while the works are going
on. At an information night in August, she asked that “business owners bear
with us whilst we undertake the work on Redfern Street. For years now we have
seen businesses barricaded behind steel shutters on an uninviting streetscape.
We can look forward to a more attractive street with slower
traffic and a greater numbers of pedestrians.”
The upgrade, which is scheduled to be complete late next
year, is set to encourage business in the area by making the street more
attractive.
Councilor Tony Pooley says that the current shutters that
adorn shop fronts “reflect a street that shuts down at 5pm each day”. In
addition, while local business owners are looking forward to a more attractive streetscape,
the short-term pain during the interim is set to increase next year after
Christmas, when work will continue.
[Source – South Sydney Herald October 2006]