A petition opposing closing Ouse St in Oamaru, the main route to residential areas of Derwent St and Reservoir Rd, has attracted 279 signatures.
It was filed yesterday with the Waitaki District Council, which has called for feedback on a proposal from Waitaki Girls' High School to close the street, which cuts through its campus, between Thames and Reed Sts.
The proposal came when the council closed the street to replace pipes and the road foundation.
One of the petition organisers, Denis Dove, yesterday said people who used Ouse St felt strongly against closing it.
He and another resident canvassed people who lived in Derwent St, Bedford St, Reservoir Rd, North Ridge Dr, Oakleigh St, Orwell St and other areas around Ouse St.
Yesterday, the petition had 279 signatures, with some more still to come.
If Ouse St were closed, the petition said, it would increase traffic on Reed St past two primary schools, a large residential home for the elderly and two large community housing complexes (including one owned by the council).
A similar petition with 95 signatures has come from St Patrick's Basilica, which is also on Reed St.
