Ask Phoebe: Bullock Track waits for lights

The Bullock Track intersection has yet to receive traffic lights. Photo / Michael Craig

Q: In your column on April 11, 2013, I asked if anything was being done to fix the dangerous intersection at the bottom of the Bullock Track at Western Springs.

The council responded it was collecting traffic data and hoped to determine a solution by July 2013.

Now it is 2015 and nothing has changed at this intersection, except that last year the NZTA wrote in a report that the Bullock Track was the second most dangerous intersection in Auckland (and the seventh most dangerous in all of New Zealand).

How many more fatalities and serious injuries do there have to be, before the council fulfils the undertaking it made in your column almost two years ago?

Carol Morrison, Auckland.

When Auckland Council staff look at options for addressing the road safety issues at the Bullock Track intersection they need to balance safety with traffic flows and passenger transport.

All the options have been examined and AT's preference is to put in signals.

There are a number of high-risk intersections across Auckland that require similar improvements.

Owing to the high cost of installing signals, AT will need to prioritise this work against other demands based on the available funding.

Here is the crash information:

Bullock Track/Great North Rd Intersection 2009-2013

• A total of 56 crashes have been recorded within 50m of the intersection in the five years 2009-2013. These accidents resulted in three serious and 26 minor injuries. There were no deaths.

• Crash types for the 56 crashes have been recorded as follows: Straight road - lost control 1; Rear end/obstruction 2; Crossing/turning 51; Overtaking 1; Pedestrian crashes 1.

Q: Whose responsibility is it to ensure charity bins for used clothing are placed in a safe, easily accessible position? There are two bins on the corner of Carrington Rd and Seaview Terrace but there is no legal stopping near the bins. Vans and cars park on the grass verge and footpath to unload or empty the bins. This footpath is used by hundreds of primary school children attending Gladstone Primary School.

Lesley Butler, Pt Chevalier.

According to Auckland Council's website, operators of donation collection points (clothing bins or similar) on public places are required to be licensed, a requirement under the Solid Waste Bylaw 2012.

The aim of the licence is to ensure that the collection of charity donations on public places takes place in a safe environment and does not cause nuisance such as obstructions or littering.

In addition, licensed donation collection points must be identified, making it easier for members of the public to hand over their donations.

Operators of donation collection points on public places can apply for a licence from 1 October 2013.