HIGH Wycombe residents have questioned the City of Kalamunda’s four-week trial closure of Milner Road, raising concerns about consultation, pedestrian safety and emergency access.

The city says the closure to through traffic, north of Stewart Road, is underway to assess the effects of restricting vehicles following community concerns about traffic volumes and heavy trucks associated with nearby development.

High Wycombe resident Domenic Furfaro said people were unhappy with the closure and questioned why the city had acted on a complaint about the Maida Vale Road and Milner Road corner while longstanding concerns elsewhere remained unresolved.

“The residents are not happy with this closure,” he said.

Mr Furfaro said residents on Sultana Road had been complaining about industries opposite their homes for 12 years without a resolution.

He also said residential development was proceeding without road and footpath upgrades that would allow residents to walk safely to High Wycombe station.

“Another issue here is that residential development is happening in this area and no roads have been upgraded with footpaths for residents to be able to walk to the train station, they need to walk on the road to get there,” he said.

Mr Furfaro also raised concerns about whether closing the road would limit evacuation options during a fire.

High Wycombe resident Eileen Hort said she had contacted councillors and the chief executive about the closure and wanted more information.

“I have been phoning and emailing every councillor with little or no response,” she said.

Ms Hort said residents opposed to the closure should contact the city and its councillors.

She said residents needed to make their objections known to support efforts to raise their concerns.

City of Kalamunda Mayor Margaret Thomas said the trial had been introduced in response to community concerns about traffic volumes and an increasing number of heavy vehicles linked to construction and development.

“Its purpose is to better understand the impacts of restricting through traffic and to assess the effects on local traffic movements and the surrounding road network,” she said.

“Local access, pedestrian access and emergency service access will continue to be maintained.”

The city said the temporary closure had been implemented in accordance with relevant legislative and traffic management requirements.

Its response did not specify a start date, identify detour roads or confirm whether a public meeting would be held.

Echo News also asked whether the bridge could remain open to cars while heavy vehicles were restricted, and how additional traffic on residential streets would be managed.

Ms Thomas said community feedback would be an important part of evaluating the trial.

Residents and road users are encouraged to submit their feedback through the online survey on Engage Kalamunda throughout the trial period.