SH2 crash stresses fears over vet clinic

Shirley Cameron had a car crash through her fence at Carrington House in Carterton. Photo / Alisa Yong

A Carterton couple who had a car crash through their fence this week say the highway at the northern end of the town is dangerous and a proposed new veterinary clinic to be built there will make matters worse.

A Holden Commodore crashed through Shirley and John Cameron's fence at Carrington House on Tuesday, knocking out several fence palings and smashing through a hedge which borders the berm.

The driver abandoned the vehicle, which was missing its front left wheel, in Andersons Line.

The crash comes a week before the public hearing of the application for resource consent for the proposed million-dollar South Wairarapa Veterinary Services clinic near the Taratahi corner.

Mrs Cameron said it was not the first time someone had crashed into their fence near the corner. "It's the fourth one and we've never had any recompense. It's dreadful."

The driver of the car had not contacted the Camerons and the matter had since been referred to police.

Andersons Line resident Alan Bateman, who saw the abandoned car the next day while walking his dog, said it was a hazardous stretch of road.

"It's the most dangerous piece of road in Carterton, I can tell you now that I've had some near misses. If I'm coming from Masterton turning into Andersons Line and I pull out to the middle of the road and a big logging truck comes through, they can't see you."

Mr Bateman said he now never turns directly into Andersons Line, instead going through to Kent Street where he turns and backtracks to Anderson's Line.

He has made a submission against the proposal to build the new clinic, fearing more traffic will make the situation worse.

"If you get a big vehicle with a horse float waiting to turn and it stalls and a big logging truck comes around the corner, he could never stop."

"It's a real hazard and I think it's a ridiculous idea."

John Cameron said the recent crash highlighted their concerns over the safety of the road.

"We have our share of drama in this end of the world. It's got a bad history of accidents. It's a section of highway that needs to be treated with care."

The road had claimed lives, Mr Cameron said, and referred to a 1993 crash on the corner which killed Jolene Wilton and Glenn Hickson.

The resource consent application for the vet clinic will be heard by independent commissioner Richard Fowler next Tuesday.