NORTH Cottesloe Primary School has plans for a new carpark and drop-off zone despite protest about loss of trees and increased reliance on cars in the town at Cottesloe council’s meeting last Tuesday.
“We had overwhelming support from the school for this, and if they are worried about trees this plan allows planting for more trees in the drop-off zone,” Mayor Jo Dawkins said.
Currently, parents have to use eight car bays when they leave their children in a small carpark on Eric Street.
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READ NOWMrs Dawkins said residents’ fear that moving the drop-off zone to adjacent Railway Street would allow widening of Eric Street was a “furphy”.
She said the council was not aware, or had not been told, of any plans for widening the street.
Those for and against the proposal to move the carpark comprised most of more than 40 people who spoke at the start of the meeting.
“This is reactive 20th century planning that assumes that it will solve congestion problems, and solve problems for cars, and it won’t,” resident Helen Sadler said.
Cottesloe Residents and Ratepayers Association president John Hammond said the town did not need another carpark, and the school “never had the courage” to answer the association’s invitation of new trees last year.
Most of those who spoke in favour of moving the carpark were parents with younger children.
“The solution is to move the ‘kiss and ride’ off Eric Street and into Railway Street, and the plan has been changed so it does not affect the trees,” parent Kirsty Barrett said.
Councillors Sandra Boulter, Sally Pyvis and Rob Thomas voted against a concept plan for the carpark and a committee of councillors and school representatives to solve traffic issues.
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