Deadline today: Stop Stanley developments. Fix the road before adding traffic.

Irresponsible plans for Stanley
Deadline for objections today: 23:59, May 20

Because the roads to Stanley are dangerous, object today (click here) to amendment Item A on the draft outline zoning plan S/H19/11 – the rezoning of a site to the south of Regalia Bay at Wong Ma Kok, and the plans to build a new car park in the centre of Stanley.

Government has proposed to rezone a green belt site in Stanley for new residential developments. It is also pushing ahead with a multi-story underground car park so that it can convert metered street parking to coach lay-bys. This as it recently approved a new hotel and a hostel in Stanley. These developments will draw more traffic – both private cars and tour coaches.

This despite the fact that the two road corridors between Stanley and the north shore of Hong Kong Island – via Repulse Bay and via Tai Tam – are dangerous and sub-standard for the traffic they carry and unable to cope with more.

They lack footways, the downhill side barriers are unable to stop the buses which ply these routes, long vehicles have difficulty passing each other at tight corners, and the increase in cycling there is yet another need for upgrading these roads.

On Monday 11 May there was the double header crash of two tour buses on Island Road. It took families 2 hours to get home. On Saturday 16 May a tour bus rammed itself into the slope down Stanley Road before the round-a-bout. And on the same day a minibus rear-ended a private car on Repulse Bay Road. Serious casualties are only a matter of time.

Southsiders now spend an increasing amount of time stuck in traffic with no escape. The pollution from tour coaches makes the roadsides of Repulse Bay and Stanley unbearable. And with more coach parking facilities, it can only get worse.

Worst of all – both road corridors have brand new slopes. The Hong Kong Government has spent close to HK$20billion on slope stabilization since 1970, with the majority of the public funds spent on slopes along roads. Road users were fully aware of slope works as lanes were blocked and traffic managed with lights or hooded staff. But when the hoardings were removed, they found the vegetation replaced with concrete, and the roads simply reinstated to their original condition!!!

So the message is simple – fix the road before attracting more traffic. Object today before mid-nite.