A petition is calling for Forbes Shire Council to reconsider one-way traffic flow with a pedestrian plaza for Templar Street after the proposal was turned down at the April council meeting.
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Consultants contracted by the council presented several options for beautification of Templar Street as part of the CBD Masterplan.
Those options included one-way traffic that would allow a pedestrian "plaza" with more room for outdoor seating and dining.
But councillors voted for an option that retained two-way traffic flow, speaking about the importance of parking in the CBD.
In a letter to the editor, Alister Lockhart OAM says Forbes is missing an opportunity to have an "attractive pedestrian precinct in the middle of town".
Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM this week said the council's decision, adopted on a vote of five votes to four, followed two years of discussions open to the community and with the business owners in the area.
"There has been lots of community consultation and it was fairly debated in the chamber," she said.
The adopted option delivers pergola structures, seating, car parking - with a change to nose-in, and trees, Mayor Miller said.
There will be raised paving, and bollards so the street can be closed off for special events.
Councillors added that they would look at how well the design was working two years after the estimated $2.5 million of work was completed.
The Advocate understands that the work required to begin making detailed plans based on the adopted option is underway.
Dr Keith Mullette, one of those who initiated the petition, says copies are available at a number of businesses including the Platypus Gallery on the corner of Lachlan and Templar streets.
The story so far
- Council calls on community to contribute to masterplan for CBD
- Have your say: consultants here to walk through CBD and make masterplan
- Toilets, parking, shade and seating: public priorities for CBD plan
- Draft CBD Masterplan now on exhibition, have your say
- Free wifi, play spaces in vision to draw more people into our shopping centre
- Councillors making parking a priority in CBD Masterplan
- Templar Street options on the table at the council's April meeting
- Councillors keep Templar Street open to two-way traffic