People sign for Spike Bridge

Erina resident Mr Rod Fountain has collected over 245 signatures supporting the naming of the footpath-cycleway bridge on Brisbane Waters Dr, Woy Woy, as Spike Milligan Bridge.

Mr Fountain said the 245 names were collected by himself over a four-hour period in the Woy Woy shopping precinct, "roughly one a minute".

"I have no doubt that several thousand more signatures could be collected if the time allowed," Mr Fountain stated in the petition submission to Gosford Council's general manager Mr Peter Wilson.

"Comments made by the public were that the bridge looks ridiculous, that the reported $1.3 million that was spent on construction could have been spent on more urgent projects and that no one had a clue who Mr Staples was.

"I have no doubt that several thousand more signatures could be collected if the time allowed.

"Gosford Council's arrogance in putting forward just one name of this construction and that name being someone, who is already recognized by the Staples Lookout, who is unknown to the public, emphasises the council's total lack of communication and their dictatorial attitude towards the people who put them into office."

Mr Fountain stated Spike Milligan was "recognised, respected and admired by the majority of residents on the Peninsula and should be the logical choice".

"He is still being immortalised by a show currently playing in Sydney," Mr Fountain stated.

Mr Fountain stated the signatures on the petition included those of the butcher, newsagents, travel agent, real estate agents, police officers, hairdressers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, shop and supermarkets assistants, Gosford Council workers, bank tellers and even the retired editor of one of the Central Coast's largest newpapers.

Mr Fountain also criticised an advertisement for the proposed naming of the bridge as being "misleading insomuch that it does not show the bridge and it describes the bridge as being in Koolewong whereas it is on the boundary of both Woy Woy and Koolewong".

Petition, 24 Apr 2007 Rod Fountain, Erina