OPINION: Is human life is disregarded over the whim of officialdom?

OPINION: Is human life is disregarded over the whim of officialdom?

by Matthew (Sas) Peppercorn, Seacliff

I have been a resident in Seacliff, (between Karitane and Warrington)
for six years. It's a beautiful place steeped in history and culture.
For several years we locals have been campaigning for a speed
reduction.

At present there are approximately 20 children who live in our small
village but the speed limit is 100km/h, even on Kilgour Street, a dead
end.

We have several regular local functions at which locals and visitors
alike are endangered by the speed of passing traffic.

We are also concerned that there is a lot of turning traffic on a
blind hill crest at the intersection of Coast Rd and Russell Rd, the
turnoff to the much-visited Truby King Reserve.

We have produced two petitions so far (signed by nearly every
resident) asking for the speed to be lowered. After 18 months of
discussion with local councillors and various official departments we
were recently told that a speed reduction is not in the formula. What
does this mean?

E=Mc²?

100kmph + small child = the big bang theory?

Serious road accident +ACC claim = another unnecessary governmental bill?

It should mean 3x $150 road signs=Safety.

We are asking for a similar speed reduction to Karitane (50km/h) or
even Warrington (70km/h). To be quite honest we would like anything
apart from the non contact and lack of concern expressed by those in
the know so far.

Is human life is disregarded over the whim of officialdom? It appears
that stadiums and new parking meters are the concern of the council
these days as are the speed doubling intentions as headlined in the
Blueskin News (December 2009).

It may be worth adding that we were given some 'Don't walk on the
railway line' signs. The same railway we need to cross to leave our
village.

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