Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon is pushing for a ‘keep clear’ sign to be painted where Jasper and Ian streets intersect with Heatherton Road.By Shaun Inguanzo
KEEPING clear of Noble Park’s Ian Street is not what traders in the struggling shopping strip have been fighting for over the last several months.
The Star has reported several times throughout November and December last year of traders’ desire for the City of Greater Dandenong to promote the shopping strip through signage and safe lighting.
Now concerned residents in surrounding streets and Ian Street traders are pushing for a ‘keep clear’ sign to be painted on the intersection of Heatherton Road and Ian Street to make the intersection safer and easier to exit.
Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon said this week that he had heard from Jasper Street residents that right-hand turns onto Heatherton Road were almost impossible to make during peak traffic times.
Nearby Pau Street residents Leonie and Gary Chirgwin said they often used Ian Street to make right-hand turns onto Heatherton Road, and found it practically impossible.
Ms Chirgwin said she often hoped that a nearby railway boomgate was down and traffic lights red, so she could safely progress onto Heatherton Road.
“I often hope they stop traffic at the same time so I can get out, but even then, the wretched drivers fill the intersection up, so I can’t get through,” she said.
Cr Gordon, the Chirgwins, and MotorPit owner Greg Penaluna all agree that a ‘keep clear’ sign painted on the ground would allow a safe entry into the intersection.
“In all the years I have been here, we have had all sorts of discussions on what do with Ian Street,” Mr Penaluna said.
“But nobody has ever come up with the idea of putting a ‘keep clear’ sign there.
“The more I thought about it after it was mentioned, people do observe the ‘keep clear’ sign (further up Heatherton Road), so I thought ‘what great idea’.”
Mr Penaluna said customers constantly mentioned how difficult it was to leave Ian Street, and he said a sign would help draw more business if access was convenient for people.
Cr Gordon said he would fight for the sign to be painted as soon as possible.
“Now I am in council, I will see what I can do to push VicRoads to have a look at the situation,” he said.
