Residents want block to stay vacant

Woy Woy Bay residents have launched a campaign to create a permanent open space at the vacant corner block, Number 92, at the northern end of Taylor St.

A development application for the block is expected to come before Gosford Council for consideration tonight (Tuesday).

Residents say they are also concerned about unsafe traffic conditions due to the narrowness of this section of the road and the lack of roadside walking space.

A petition from residents will also be tabled at tonight's Council meeting.

This small (350 square metres) block was the last vacant land in Taylor St and had been unoccupied for over a decade, according to residents.

A meeting of 30 local residents and their children was held on council land adjacent the vacant block on Sunday, March 2, to discuss alternatives to building on the land.

Local resident Mr Jim Doe said: "All the residents just want a place for the kids to play, somewhere out of the way of the traffic that uses this narrow part of Taylor St.

"If development of this goes ahead as is, it could prevent council from ever being able to properly widen and make the road safe.

"We have asked council to consider acquiring the block for space and safety reasons but sadly they have so far declined."

Another resident, Ms Sharon Pink added: "The number 92 block is valuable and rare open space when all other blocks in the Bays have been built out.

"We'd all been told by council that the land would never be used, and now it looks like we'll lose our last chance for a park in our part of the Bay."

The meeting was told that, back in 1958, residents were promised a park in this area by a Gosford councillor, who lived in Taylor St, to make up for the sale by council of waterside land in the area.

The original block was only 250 square metres and not suitable for development.

However, in 1995 Council sold part of the roadway setback without gazettal to bring the block up to its current size.

Jeffrey Cook, March 14