Parkes Shire Council is investigating further measures to address a lack of lighting and safety concerns over the pedestrian crossing at the Parkes Arbour in Clarinda Street.
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Councillor Bill Jayet brought the matter to a council meeting during the Questions and Matters of Urgency section.
"Since the hugely successful opening of the gelato outlet in Clarinda Street, opposite the Broadway Hotel, residents have raised with me the lack of lighting at the pedestrian crossing - believing that an accident ''is only a matter of time'," he said at the January 19 meeting.
"During the school holidays both the hotel and gelato shop [hosted] large crowds outdoors.
"Many young people automatically believe they have right of way on the crossing which is correct to a degree, however according to residents who have spoken to me, youngsters have been seen to run out onto the crossing without caution at times."
Cr Jayet said motorists have said they have had to break abruptly because they "simply haven't seen the pedestrian because of the poor lighting".
He suggested the need for a bright light at both ends of the crossing.
"The one street light is struggling badly in radiating light because of the tree foliage below it and the thickly covered arbours in front of both the hotel and gelato shop," Cr Jayet said.
"I must say all the old street lights in Clarinda Street appear to be struggling because of the thick foliage of the trees.
"There is such a huge contrast between the vibrant light of the newly invigorated Clarinda Street, between Cooke Park and the Henry Parkes statue, to that of the rest of the CBD area."
It's not the first time the lighting at the pedestrian crossing near the Broadway Hotel has been raised, with council's acting Works and Services Director Yvette Lieschke-Mercer saying they have trimmed trees, replaced bulbs and repainted the crossing in response to concerns.
"With this completed, council still fields requests for additional controls," she said.
Council's design team has investigated LED approach signage which illuminates as vehicles approach, and is now awaiting prices from a supplier.
Council will also follow up repainting the crossing.
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