A neighbourhood war has erupted after a sign was erected in a busy street that is often congested with cars for school pick-ups and drop-offs stopping non-residents from using it.

Residents of the often-congested Liverpool Street at Hoxton Park, in Sydney‘s west, became so fed-up with motorists using their backstreet as a shortcut, they barricaded either end with wheelie bins.

In response to the resident’s complaints about the traffic volume, as well as safety concerns, Liverpool City Council have placed signs which restrict right turns into the street to only residents of the suburb.

Due to the street’s heavily use by parents of three nearby schools, the council voted unanimously in August to restrict access to the 230-metre street after a speed bump put in last year failed to stop the onslaught of traffic. 

There are around 30 houses across Lismore Street and Ballina Close and they are in the middle of Malek Fahd Islamic School, Good Samaritan Catholic College and Hoxton Park Public School.

Lismore Street, which connects First Avenue and Pacific Palms Circuit, has been consistently used as a rat-run between Hoxton Park Road and Kurrajong Road.

The street has also become a time-saver for shoppers on their way to the Carnes Hill Marketplace or people travelling to Michael Clarke Recreation Centre.

Residents have said that during peak hour, they ‘can’t leave their homes’ due to the sheer volume of traffic blocking them in.

In a report by Liverpool City Council’s traffic committee, there have also been a ‘number’ of car accidents on the street.  

‘Most … have not been reported to the police, however our consultation corroborates their occurrence,’ it said. 

‘This includes an incident during the consultation period. 

‘This has raised immediate safety concerns causing residents to take matters into their own hands by attempting to block the street with rubbish bins.’

The report detailed that on average, there had been 5,883 daily trips recorded on Liverpool Street, with 85 per cent of vehicles travelling at or below 48km/h.

The report mentioned that it was still ‘awaiting on police information’ about any crash data from the street. 

Council since took the committee’s recommendation – and on the weekend erected the permanent signs at each end of the street, stating there was no right turn but ‘Hoxton Park residents and buses excepted’. 

The signs have divided the community, with the topic becoming so heated, comments have now been turned off on the local Facebook Group. 

‘Watch out! Police patrolling Lismore Street. Just copped two points and $272 fine,’ one wrote.

Another added: ‘So my husband’s licence says ‘Hoxton Park’ and mine says ‘Carnes Hill’, otherwise same address. He can turn right but I can’t? That’s ridiculous.’

The change has seen many view the residents as ‘entitled’, but those who live in the street have been waiting for years for something to be done. 

Motorists who use the road often have started a petition to try and get the decision reversed.

‘Hoxton Park has three schools within 800metres of each other, making it very hard to drop off and pick up kids as all the streets and roads in the surrounding areas are congested during this time,’ the petition organiser Peter Newman wrote.

‘Liverpool Council had restricted access to Lismore Street from Pacific Palms Circuit making it more busy and congested on the other roads and if anything more dangerous. 

‘We want the sign removed. Favouring two streets and inconveniencing thousands is not the right solution.’

But one local resident explained why the new sign was so important, saying it was ‘a very little street’ that becomes ‘very congested during school days’.

‘I’m sure residents who live on that street have had enough if they can’t leave their homes due to the congestion!’ she wrote.

‘Can’t blame them if they want to reduce the amount of vehicles accessing their little street.’

In a statement on Monday, Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said ‘the people who live in this area are OK to go through that area’.

‘Also if you are visiting someone, doing school drop off, going to sport or have any business in that area you are fine,’ he wrote on Facebook.

‘Lismore Street was only designed for 3,000 cars but it’s getting 6,000 cars a day.

‘People on that street are stuck in their driveways and can’t get out and there have been physical fights between drivers and residents in the last week.’ 

A Liverpool City Council council spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that, ‘For the last fortnight, there have been signs in the street warning motorists about the coming turn restrictions, which are designed to stop Lismore street from being used as a rat run.

‘Council took the action following many direct complaints from residents as well as social media posts about Lismore Street’s high traffic volume and a series of car accidents.

‘A Council investigation revealed some 41,000 cars a week were using the street, way in excess of its rated maximum capacity (14,000 cars a week).

‘Residents were consulted about the changes and were in favour of measures to stop speeding cars, reduce the volume of traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

‘Council has also received many messages of thanks from grateful local residents for listening to their concerns and taking action.’