City backs plans for Grey Street East

Plans to open Grey Street East in the CBD to two-way traffic will go ahead after a Tuesday night unanimous council decision.

Under the plan, the road connecting York and Aberdeen Street will be widened to allow traffic to flow both ways — a move the City claimed will improve traffic flow through town.

On the night the sole opponent to the proposal was resident Chris Thomson, who warned it could create a “rat run” for traffic and increase congestion on York Street.

Mr Thomson cited nine opposing comments on Facebook as evidence of the plan being unpopular, and claimed the modifications would cut parking.

However, the City’s plan is to increase parking by 26 bays.

Cr Paul Terry, who lives in the area, rejected fears of a major increase in traffic on Grey Street.

“I don’t come across many people coming up the hill to do a rat-run in the reverse direction,” he said.

“The argument ... is quite a stretch.”

Cr Emma Doughty said a handful of Facebook comments were not “any measure of doing consultation with the public”.

“We have consulted, we’ve sent letters to the community and businesses,” she said.