Two sets of traffic lights in such close proximity on North Street is sure to create havoc in summer.

But pedestrians face the challenges of trying to cross the busy street each day.

Traffic comes from three different directions and can be extremely difficult to negotiate.

For people with a disability, the elderly, people with prams and small children, the difficulty is even moreso.

Council assessed the effectiveness of other options.

A pedestrian overpass over North St, it says, does not address the high numbers of pedestrians on all three legs of the intersection, nor does it encourage movements to and from the Batemans Bay foreshore.

A marked pedestrian crossing would cause higher levels of traffic congestion than controlled traffic lights. 

A roundabout would not fit at the intersection, as it is constrained by development.

Closure of North St between Perry St and Vesper St would cause more congestion.

Making North St one-way travelling east would put too much traffic pressure on Clyde and Orient Street.

If something is not done, council says, there is a potential for it to be found to have breached its duty of care.

However two thirds of people recently surveyed did not want the traffic lights – including local business owners, represented by the Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce.

So what is the ideal solution?

Unfortunately, it has already passed.

When approval was granted to the Village Centre, all those years ago, the increased traffic should have been taken into account.

A safe passage to its sister centre, Bridge Plaza, should have been provided.

Council now admits it will “discuss” the provision of an exit for the underground car park onto Vesper St with Village Centre owners long term as an option – why was this not considered 20 years ago?

Hindsight is now of little value.

The community will just have to live with the best, worst solution.