There has been a public backlash about the removal of the “No Standing – horse drawn vehicles excepted” signs at the Tenterfield Saddlers. Reaction, it seems has brought a change of heart on the decision.
A front page story in the Southern Free Times (December 30, 2010) reported that a decision by the Tenterfield Shire’s Traffic Committee required the removal of the signs from outside the historic tourist attraction on High Street because they no longer fit to NSW standards. On this advice they were taken down.
Tenterfield Saddlers manager Lenore Morris said a lot of visiting tourists had noted their anger about the decision. Word had obviously filtered back to the corridors of power.
It was noted at the February 24 meeting of the council, that there has been a lot of public comment on the issue. Mayor Toby Smith said the matter had been returned to the traffic committee and the RTA conceded they had no problems with allowing the signs to be returned. He said, “They said that the only problem was that the `No Standing’ zone could not be enforced.”
This was not considered an issue, as the public are generally courteous about leaving a space for photograph opportunities outside the shop made famous by Peter (Woolnough) Allen’s Tenterfield Saddler song.
“The signs are unique,” said Cr Lucy Sullivan who carried the support of the Heritage Advisory Committee on the subject. Councillors carried the motion for immediate reinstatement.