Castle Hill: proposal to reopen Warwick Pde sparks outrage by residents

THE FUTURE of a sleepy suburban street is now in the hands of a Sydney council, after residents fought to defend it from proposed changes that would increase traffic.

Warwick Pde, Castle Hill could be reopened to through traffic. Residents are concerned about the proposal.

THE FUTURE of a sleepy suburban street is now in the hands of Hills Shire councillors, after residents fought desperately to defend it from proposed changes that would increase traffic.

More than 100 residents signed a petition against a current proposal by The Hills Shire Council to open Warwick Pde, Castle Hill to through traffic.

The road was made a ‘no entry’ to vehicles except buses at the Parsonage Rd in the early 1980s — following an extensive study and recommendation by consultants.

Residents, including Matthew Dick, claim the current proposal to re-open the quiet street had caused alarm in their response to council.

Mr Dick, who lives in Verletta Ave, expressed a “strong disagreement with the proposed changes” in a letter to council.

“I see this change will affect the ‘Quality of Life’ we have in our quiet street,” he said.

We brought our home based on the location as a quiet street, Verletta and Warwick are effectively a dead end, not a through road.”

The concerned resident said a high number of schoolchildren use the road to access Castle Hill Public, Castle Hill High, Gilroy College and Oakhill College.

Warwick Pde, Castle Hill could be reopened for through traffic. Residents are concerned this will lead to more accidents like this one.

“I do not believe the Council has completed its full due diligence, and is rushing a change without a comprehensive traffic management plan for the whole area,” he said.

“I do not believe the resent traffic count study is a true reflection of what the impact to these local streets will have if these changes are made — this will promote more traffic into these local streets.”

While Warwick Pde resident Darek Kosla said it was clear the proposal was not a popular decision with residents.

“We are amazed how the council could proceed with ad hoc plans at the expense of local residents,” he said. “We urge the council to reconsider reopening of Warwick Pde.”

Mr Kosla said council has tried to reopen Warwick Pde on several occasions, including 1991, 2001 and 2008.

A Hills Shire Council report revealed it had “undertaken a review of road safety and traffic volumes in the areas of Parsonage Rd and Warwick Pde in Castle Hill”.

“This review has been informed by localised traffic counts conducted in August 2017 and May 2018,” the report said.

“Council invited comments regarding a proposal to remove all four single lane raised threshold traffic devices outside 3, 17, 41b and 55 Parsonage Rd, and to reopen Warwick Pde to through traffic with adjustments to the paved entry threshold at Warwick Parade and Verletta Ave.”

Hills Shire Mayor, Michelle Byrne said The Hills was growing with increased activity in and around the Castle Hill CBD and Showground Precinct.

“Council recently conducted a review of road safety and traffic conditions along these well used thoroughfares and found cars were queuing in peak times and some motorists’ were putting themselves and others at risk when travelling through this busy section of road,” Cr Byrne said.

“These traffic devices also create increased noise when a car drives over the top of them and also remove the opportunity for off-street parking.

“The review also found that current access restrictions into and out of Warwick Parade redirects traffic to other surrounding roads, including Whitling Avenue and sections of Parsonage Road.”