By ALENA HIGGINS
CHANGES slated to “black spot” intersections in the Southern Downs have received mixed reviews, with one publican questioning the need to ban parking near the corner of Guy and Pratten streets, Warwick.
Jason Worth said his pub, The Sovereign Hotel, could be adversely affected if customers were unable to park outside the establishment, which resided at the intersection.
“Everyone likes to be able to park as close as possible to where they are going,” Mr Worth said.
“(The intersection) gets busy around school time because of St Mary’s up the road, but other than that, it is pretty quiet.”
Mr Worth, who has been the owner of the long-standing watering hole for five years, acknowledged seeing about half a dozen accidents at the four-way crossing during his tenure, but claimed the installation of stop signs 18 months ago meant it had been “pretty good since then”.
The intersection is among nine nominated black spots across the Southern Downs to be upgraded with funding from a targeted Commonwealth Government program.
Maranoa MP Bruce Scott made the announcement last week, pledging $663,400 to make notorious roads in the region safer.
Under the planned changes at the Guy and Pratten streets intersection, $44,600 will be spent to install centre line marketing, ban parking near the intersection, remove sight impediments and replace give way signs with stop signs, with the latter already completed.
Other junctions in Warwick, including the Grafton and Wantley streets intersection, the Dragon and Fitzroy streets intersection and the Pratten and Tooth streets intersection, will have parking removed.
Mr Worth, who was unaware of the changes before speaking with the Free Times, said it would have been nice to have been consulted.
He said whatever happened, he hoped any parking changes would be well sign posted and advertised in advance to avoid any unwanted fines.
“That would be an expensive beer,” he said.
All modifications will be delivered during the course of the 2015-’16 financial year.
Proposed changes:
$44,600 to install ‘Stop’ signs and centre line markings, ban parking near the intersection and remove sight impediments at the Guy/ Pratten streets intersection, Warwick.
$44,600 to improve intersection visibility, change ‘Give Way’ signs to ‘Stop’ signs and remove parking near the Grafton/Wantley streets intersection, Warwick.
$44,600 to improve visibility, change ‘Give Way’ to ‘Stop’ signs and remove parking near the Dragon/Fitzroy streets intersection, Warwick.
$44,600 to improve visibility, change ‘Give Way’ to ‘Stop’ signs and remove parking near the Pratten/Tooth streets intersection, Warwick.
$43,000 to install a raised painted median and additional ‘Stop’ and warning signs at the Grafton/Canning streets intersection, Warwick.
$183,000 to widen the shoulder and install chevron alignment markers at Nundubbermere Road, about 5km west of Stanthorpe-Texas Road, Nundubbermere.
$114,000 to upgrade delineation, install new chevron alignment markers and shoulder widening on two curves on Jingarry Mt Sturt Road from Warwick Yangan Road, Yangan.
$90,000 to install guide posts, pavement marking, chevron alignment markers and signage and remove trees at Stabiles Road, Glen Aplin.
$55,000 to install a raised and painted median and additional ‘Stop’ signs at the Railway/Creek streets intersection, Stanthorpe.
