Calls to reduce speed limit at town gateway

TOO FAST?: Featherston residents are appealing to South Wairarapa District Council to reduce the speed limit to 50km/h at the northern entrance to the town -- to prevent accidents and noise pollution.

A Featherston man is urging people to speak up about the town's speed limits, amid concerns about speeding motorists and noise pollution at the northern gateway.

Howard Freed, a Featherston resident of 40 years, has organised a mailbox drop encouraging residents make a submission to South Wairarapa District Council's Annual Plan to reduce the speed limit from 70 to 50km/h from the northern entrance of Featherston to the Donald Creek bridge.

While the Annual Plan consultation document proposed reducing other speed limits in the district, it had no plans to amend the Featherston entranceway, despite northern Fitzherbert St having 24 occupied houses and two churches.

With traffic into Featherston increasing, Mr Freed said residents had aired concerns about the safety of a higher-speed thoroughfare in a residential area, particularly as motorists often exceed the speed limit.

"It doesn't make sense," he said. "They're looking at lowering the limit at the entrance to Greytown from the cemetery, but there are practically no houses in that area.

"It's strange to have a 70km/h area right in town."

Mr Freed said one of the main complaints from residents was excessive noise from vehicles travelling at speed, particularly trucks and motorcycles.

"With the trucks, you've got the heavy tyres, so they're that much noisier. You can hear the Harleys winding up from way back."

Other residents have noticed motorists travelling at 80-100km/h on that stretch of road, with one person remarking "they go like a bat out of hell".

"There's no speed camera, so it's open season," Mr Freed said.

Safety concerns have also been raised, as people have to navigate fast-moving traffic when crossing the street, backing out of driveways, or exiting from the Jehovah's Witness and Mormon churches.

People were particularly concerned about children and pets, especially as Mr Freed's neighbour's dog was allegedly run over by a speedster.

Fellow resident David Famularo has made a submission to council, stating concerns about the Fitzherbert St/Boundary Rd intersection, which is often busy with turning traffic, including logging trucks.

"Because of the bend in the road at the corner, vehicles pulling out from Boundary Rd don't have great visibility," he said.

"Reducing the speed limit to 50km/h would mean traffic heading north will take longer to reach the intersection, giving more time for drivers to pull out, making the intersection safer."

Featherston Community Board chair Lee Taylor has also made a submission, citing not just safety concerns, but stating a lower speed limit into town could help increase Featherston's visitor numbers.

"If you're travelling slower, you're more likely to notice what's around you, and hopefully stop for a look around.

"We're looking out for Featherston's economic growth as well."

Mark Allingham, general manager for infrastructure services at the council, said that, while council would advocate for change, it had limited control as State Highway2 (which includes Fitzherbert St) was controlled by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).

He said the council had approached NZTA several times about Featherston -- and managed to get engine-breaking signs erected at the north end to reduce noise.

"However those signs are advisory, and not enforceable."

Mr Allingham said the council planned, following consultation from residents on the Annual Plan, to take a comprehensive list of speed limits to NZTA for consideration later this year.