Youngster meets council on road safety

A nine-year-old is trying to convince the Southland District Council to lower speed limits in her street for the safety of residents and trampers.

Winton resident Elsie Turrell presented her submission, along with a petition of more than 300 signatures to attempt to get the speed limit lowered at Moore Rd from 100kmh to 50kmh, at a full council meeting yesterday.

She was one submitter adressing concerns to the council as part of its draft speed limits bylaw.

‘‘My goal is to make Moore Rd in Winton safer for everyone, but especially the users of the Winton trail.

‘‘There is also a one lane bridge on Moore Rd and it is hard to see people coming out of the Winton Trail, as it has a lump of dirt, so this also makes it dangerous for the people on the trail.’’

As part of her school science project, she decided to create a petition.

After the meeting, when asked if she felt inspired to change the world as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is doing, she confessed she did not know who that was — but she was happy to be able to fight for what she believed.

Her submission was praised by councillors.

Public Health South representative Janice Burton also presented,

supporting the proposal, but asked to limit the speed to 60kmh around all the rural schools.

Mrs Burton said the Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced the Government would cut speed limits around schools across the country, but the change would be rolled out over 10 years.

‘‘This is the perfect opportunity for council to be proactive.’’

Another submitter, Manfred Herzoff, asked the council to reduce the speed limit for Stewart Island from 50kmh to 30kmh.