ANGRY, confused and inconvenienced.
That is the reaction of many residents who are taking to social media this week after Link road at Netherton Park Avenue was permanently closed-off on Monday.
The controversial closure will prevent direct access for road users of Link road to access the New England Highway.
Resident Mark Porter said the closure will be an inconvenience and will not see any benefit to reducing traffic.
“Now all the traffic will be going through another street and housing estate,” he said.
Gay Mulvey said the motion for closure was passed too quickly to take in any objections.
“Council did not give enough consideration to the submissions and petitions that were put forward by residents of The Foothills and Netherton Park nor did they carry out extensive traffic studies of the the area,” she said.
The permanent road closure will mean that the new access to the New England Highway will be via Holmfield Drive and the roundabout.
However according to Armidale Regional Council Administrator Dr Ian Tiley, the planned work was discussed with the benefits outlined.
“Plans for the road closure were on public display earlier this year.
“Community responses were considered and addressed by the former Armidale Dumaresq Council and the application submitted was amended to address concerns prior to its approval.”
Road safety issues and advice from Council’s Traffic Committee were fundamental to Council’s decision to approve the project, according to Mr Tiley.
“There was some opposition to the proposal but ultimately I accepted the recommendation by the traffic committee largely due to safety reasons,” he said.
Residents have also expressed concerns that the closure will hinder local emergency services.
SES Local Controllor Joshua Osborne said the closure will have no effect.
“I don’t think that is a problem… we are able to manage road closures like this and make sure we’re still responding as quickly as possible,” Mr Osborne said.
