Concrete island will ‘kill’ business

Bunbury Drive-In Chemist owner Bob Schurmann says his business will be ruined if the Bunbury City Council goes ahead with plans to extend a concrete island in Forrest Avenue.

Picture by Jon Gellweiler: Drive-In Chemist owner Bob Schurmann with the petition signed by more than 3000 people.

Forrest Avenue Dental Centre owner Tim Yuen also opposes the plan and said it would make it difficult for ambulances to attend calls at the centre because the traffic would bottleneck.

Earlier this year the council alerted the businesses to its plans to extend the concrete island on Forrest Avenue, between the Drive-In Chemist and the Coles Express petrol station, towards Spencer Street.

City of Bunbury chief executive officerAndrewBrien said the petrol station, which reopened earlier this year, had increased traffic and the city had to address the safety issues.

‘‘We are aware of the concerns of surrounding businesses but are working towards alternative solutions without compromising on safety,’’ Mr Brien said.

Both businesses have organised petitions — Mr Yuen’s petition was lodged with the council last week and Mr Schurmann has gathered more than 3000 signatures.

Mr Yuen said the traffic issues created by the barrier would cause problems if an ambulance was called which, although infrequent, had happened twice in the past year.

‘‘The council has to consider that the ambulances need easy access when we call,’’ Mr Yuen said.

‘‘I would like to see statistics which show the site is more dangerous than other places around Bunbury.’’

Mr Schurmann said the barrier would mean he would lose much of his passing trade.

‘‘It would kill the business overnight,’’ Mr Schurmann said.

‘‘It would be disastrous, we started the business from nothing and if it becomes inconvenient to drive in people will go elsewhere.’’