Residents in Footscray are furious at being kept in the dark that their street may become the sole entrance and exit to an expanded hospital car park.
Eleanor Street residents have collected more than 200 signatures in only two days on a petition calling on the council to cease works until it reconsiders the proposal.
Maribyrnong Council last year announced it would be converting its Southampton Street works centre into a temporary car park for the hospital precinct, with entry via Rayner Street.
But on August 20 Eleanor Street residents discovered the permanent entrance would be via 41 Eleanor Street and works would be beginning within days.
Residents are worried an estimated 1000 extra car movements accessing over 400 car parks each day will decrease road safety for children, particularly around nearby St John’s Catholic Primary School.
They have written to the council arguing increased traffic congestion will not only affect residents but impact on ambulances attending Western Hospital.
Resident Karastar Tuddin said a meeting between council and residents on September 9 came after works had already begun.
“Considering that works at number 41 have already commenced, we feel we are now fighting a rear guard action to gain adequate, meaningful and genuine consultation regarding this project and have Council seek a more suitable access point for the car park.”
The Council has held four prior meetings with residents over the car park works program, yet none of these meetings included Eleanor Street residents.
Mrs Tuddin said a subsequent meeting held on Monday evening left residents unimpressed.
“The main thing is the safety of school children, as well as residents. The second is the absolute disregard from council in regards to consultation.”
Mrs Tuddin said the obvious solution was for access to be via Gordon Street, already a main road.
“There is an easy solution, but the Public Hospital refuses to allow access via a tiny strip of land.”
Residents have been refused access to plans for the work, being told they are still a work in progress.
They are seeking a stop to works while consultation takes place but been told works will proceed in the meantime.
Residents have taken their frustrations online, documenting their concerns at carparkcowboys.blogspot.com.au.
Maribyrnong Council and Western Hospital operators Western Health did not respond by time of publication.
