Village see victory sign

Gordonton residents may yet gain satisfaction in their bid to retain a 50kmh speed limit down a narrow 500 metre cul-de-sac in their village.

Late last year residents were aghast to learn of Waikato District Council's "do it by the book" plans to raise the speed limit to 70kmh, because the narrow 500m cul de sac, which hosts Eastwest College and has no footpaths, does not conform with New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) national criteria for establishing 50kmh speed limits.

While councillors were unanimously opposed to the speed increase, council roading manager Ian Gooden argued they had no choice but to follow national guidelines.

But ward councillor Rod Wise was a lot happier following a speed bylaw hearing at Ngaruawahia last week, where NZTA programme manager Ian McKillop agreed to have another look at College Dr, and take other factors into consideration in assessing the recommended speed limit.

Mr Wise told the hearing the "one size fits all" approach was just not sensible.

"I wonder how serious we take road safety when we have something working well and then have to change it," he said.

Mr Gooden spoke against retaining the 50kmh sign, saying it had not been warranted, and there was strong evidence that signs did not change the driving behaviour of motorists.

Mr Gooden also drew comparisons with the road to Kawhia, where there was a 100kmh speed limit, but it was often impossible to get above 50kmh, and suspected the same would be the case at College Dr.

Deputy Mayor Clint Baddeley said he had "a real problem" with the way rules were formulated. "We have people in small communities without footpaths making a plea for the safety of their children and it seems the laws don't allow for that. There is something wrong."

After being challenged by Mayor Peter Harris to re-look at College Drive, Mr McKillop said the council would still need to go through "a robust process" to make sure any speed limit decision would "stand up in court".

Waikato road policing manager Leo Tooman said it was a case of a local community reclaiming its street.

"My only concern is once this is opened up, what will be the flow-on effect," he said.

The answer could perhaps be seen in equally passionate submissions from Glen Massey and Tauwhare residents at the hearing who also wanted speed limits reduced in their villages.

However the council's policy committee deferred consideration of those requests until the next review to allow proper consultation.

Meanwhile Mr Wise was pleased to have made progress, but frustrated at the efforts Gordonton residents had to go to. "They have got better things to do than attend a bylaw hearing, but sometimes you just have to make a stand."

- © Fairfax NZ News