The mayor, deputy mayor Katheryn Smith and councillors Tony Tersteeg, James Hooke and Aled Hoggett met with Manning-Great Lakes local area commander Superintendent Peter Thurtell last Wednesday to discuss their concerns over the safety of motorists and pedestrians using the road. 

Cr Rosenbaum and Cr Tersteeg had both queried the processes which saw the signs erected without appropriate safety measures being considered.

The mayor said council had acted immediately after it received a letter from Superintendent Thurtell demanding the signs go up.

Close to 100 people last week staged a peaceful march down Fairbairns Lane protesting the erection of the No Stopping signs.

“At this stage nothing has been resolved. The police have said they will get back to us,” Cr Rosenbaum said.

“The signs will be staying. There is the possibility the one on the corner near O’Brien’s  property (Hillview Herb Farm) could be moved down to Forbesdale Close, but that’s only a suggestion at this stage.”

Cr Tersteeg said he had asked that the signs on one side of the road be removed while the mayor raised the possibility of bus or drop-off zones, but again nothing had been decided. The mayor said he would continue to press for police to pay for the signs and any associated costs.

“Police believe council should pay for them, but we didn’t ask for them and I don’t believe that’s fair on ratepayers,” he said.

Cr Rosenbaum also said police should have known the correct process to have the signs erected was to first meet with council’s traffic committee.

“They said they weren’t aware of the traffic committee, but they should have known,” he said.

“I think if we’ve learnt something from this it’s that in the future we have to sit down and have the discussion before these things are implemented.”

The mayor said police had told councillors at Wednesday’s meeting they would talk with protesters at the vigil site on the southern outskirts of Gloucester and listen to any concerns they may have.