Roads and Maritime Services has proposed replacing the existing pedestrian crossing on the Mitchell Highway with a kerb extension pedestrian facility. It would remove the pedestrian crossing from the road and give right of way to the traffic.

But resident Chris Newberry said the town was completely against the idea.

Mr Newberry said he found out about RMS’ plans because of a public notice in the paper on Saturday about the removal of the zebra crossing. By Sunday afternoon he had 250 signatures on a petition against the proposal to present to RMS staff at the drop in session on Monday.

At the end of Monday’s information session there were 400 signatures on the petition.

“It was like an angry mob. No one could believe what they were saying. They should be actually consulting us before they put the plans to the public,” Mr Newberry said.

“They kept telling us it was safer. ‘We’ve done it in Molong and Cudal and it’s safer’.

“They kept telling us with the pedestrian crossing as it is you just take a leap of faith and walk out in front of a truck expecting it to stop. We’ve grown up on this highway, we’re not idiots.”

The pedestrian crossing was used by a lot of school children, Mr Newberry said, especially in the mornings and in the hour after school had finished.

“If they make us wait for the traffic to stop, a kid is going to get bored and a kid is going to take a risk,” he said.

An RMS spokesperson said the NSW government had provided $81,600 for the kerb extension facility to be constructed.

“The existing pedestrian crossing is currently exposing pedestrians to the high traffic volumes which use the Mitchell Highway and is a significant safety risk for the community,” the spokesperson said.

“Community members have been invited to provide feedback on the proposed design and speak with the Roads and Maritime project team about the proposed changes.”

Community members can provide feedback on the issue by emailing western.projects@rms.nsw.gov.au.