Ask Phoebe: More football on park turns narrow road into 'death trap'

Train drivers sound their horn as a safety precaution. Picture / Sarah Ivey

Are you able to find out what plans are afoot for Meola Rd?

Since the opening of Seddon Fields to football and more recently the opening of the all-weather fields, Meola Rd is now really dangerous when football is being played. To worsen things, this recently became a bus route.

I have watched Meola Rd become a major through-route this past 20 years.

On any given football day (or night, under lights) there is just no room for through-vehicles to keep in their lane when there are a zillion cars parked. And it's even more perilous when these people swing a door open. In fact the parking is so insufficient that they park all over the grassed reserves.

For any buses, trucks or large cars using that road at these times, it is a death trap waiting to happen for driver and young football player alike.

When there is ever a tournament and buses are parked along the road, then this heightens the danger even further.

It is annoying to see during the past few weeks council contractors re-doing the water channels and planting the Motat reserve but no one widening the road. This road is ideal for widening since it has no residents. I cannot understand why the council did not do the maths when firstly making this a major junior football ground and secondly introducing a bus route along it.
- Shane Melton, Pt Chevalier, and, with similar concerns, Bryan Leyland and Alan Horner.

A spokesman for Auckland Transport says the development of the playing fields at Seddon Park has increased parking demand along Meola Rd. This can create difficulties for vehicles to pass, particularly for the buses that use the road. (Well, we knew that.)

It has been suggested that the road could be widened to allow vehicles to pass while retaining car parking. This would be a significant project and presents various challenges due to the presence of mature trees on one side and the Meola Reef Reserve on the other, both of which would be affected by widening the road. This is not a feasible option at this time.

Auckland Transport is investigating options to assist the flow of traffic by providing opportunities for vehicles to pass.

I live on the railway line just south of Ellerslie racecourse. I lived in hope that when the electric trains were established things might be a bit quieter, but no. Every time a train goes past my back yard it honks its horn (or whatever you call it). I would like to know why this is necessary.
- Peggy Berridge, Epsom.

It's nothing to do with whether the trains are electric or diesel. It's a matter of safety.

KiwiRail's website advises that operational rules allow drivers to use the horn at their discretion. This may be where they think there may be someone or something ahead of them, as they approach level crossings, or where there may be people trespassing on the tracks.

Drivers are instructed to sound the horn only when necessary within an urban area, in consideration of nearby residents.

Residents have asked that KiwiRail train drivers not use horns in areas protected by barriers and bells. However many motorists disregard level crossing warning signs and alarms, with very serious consequences in some cases.

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