Main North Rd a ‘hazard’ for pedestrians

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 4

Main North Rd a ‘hazard’ for pedestrians

Crossing the Main North Road at its junction with Daniels Road is a pedestrian hazard, according to a Waimairi District councillor, Cr Gordon Freeman.

On the afternoon ,of June 20, a woman, Aline Kathleen Henry, aged 77, was hit by a car while trying to cross the Main North Road, just after 4 p.m. She was badly injured and admitted to Christchurch Hospital.' Cr Freeman argued that it was time a pedestrian crossing was put across the four-lane road at the junction.

Cr Freeman is the chairman of the Waimairi District Council’s works, reserves and traffic committees.

“What has to happen before somebody does something ivout it?” he said.

Cr Freeman said that elderly pedestrians, many of whom lived in a big complex of pensioner cottages nearby, ran a serious risk of being involved in an accident when they tried to do shopping over the road. He believed that a set of traffic lights would be the solution. The issue was not a new one, he said. A petition of 150 signatures had been received by the council earlier this year. An interim report had been made but its findings were still being analysed. However, Cr Freeman said the responsibility was ultimately the Ministry of Transport’s. He was prepared to make personal representations to the Ministry to get action on the matter. a -