IT’S taken six years, but Leeming resident Con Abbott has finally convinced someone to look into taming Farrington Road’s growing traffic snarls.

“The first time I raised this problem in 2013, what had hit me was that my daughter was going to Kennedy Baptist [College] up the road, but I couldn’t get out of Aulberry Parade,” Mr Abbott said.

His letters to Melville council, state and federal MPs bore no fruit, but at last month’s full council meeting, local ward councillor Matthew Woodall raised a successful motion calling for an investigation into calming the road.

Cr Woodall said he went to a public forum organised by Mr Abbott in July and heard some eye-opening stories from locals.

“One lady at the meeting said she lives on Farrington Road, and one morning it took her half an hour to get out of her driveway,” Cr Woodall said.

• Con Abbott and Cr Matthew Woodall want to see Farrington Road reverted to something more “suburban”.

Murdoch Drive

Mr Abbott says the opening of the retail precinct at Jandakot airport brought a lot more traffic in, while Cr Woodall’s motion notes the Murdoch Drive connection to the Freeway, currently under construction, has also funnelled more traffic along Farrington.

“We wanted to change the Murdoch Drive connection but that didn’t happen, so we now have to do what we can to assist the residents,” Cr Woodall said.

“Everyone accepts Farrington is not meant to be a default Roe.”

Mr Abbott would like to see the speed limit along the road reduced to 50kmh, saying its roundabouts have not been effective in slowing cars.

He also wants Main Roads to reconsider Give Way signs coming off the Freeway and Karel Avenue, saying they result in a continuous stream of traffic that prevents residents moving around.

“You’re not creating the natural breaks in the traffic,” he says.

Cr Woodall says other suggestions that came from the community forum included pedestrian crossings and speed bumps.

by STEVE GRANT