The council is reviewing a new airlock installed outside a Bakery Hill supermarket after safety concerns were raised.
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The structure outside the Coles - just off Little Bridge Street, although with its official address on Peel Street - was completed last month. It now extends across the footpath to the gutter of Sharwood Street outside the store.
Local resident Max Power, who regularly shops in the area, described the new structure as "ridiculous" and "unsafe" and told The Courier he had flagged his concern with councillors.
The council meanwhile said it was not satisfied with the outcome and planned to raise it with Coles representatives.
What a crazy precedent. If they can do that, what's to stop everyone else wanting their own little atriums? You could have them all the way up Sturt Street
- Max Power, local resident
"I just think it's crazy. It shouldn't have got that far," Mr Power said.
"You can't have a solid wall right up against the gutter. What a crazy precedent. If they can do that, what's to stop everyone else wanting their own little atriums? You could have them all the way up Sturt Street."
The structure consists of a series of floor-to-ceiling panels with tinted glass. There are narrow automatic opening doors at either side.
Beyond the airlock, there is also a taxi rank with room for several vehicles, including a parking space just the new building. The structure now restricts access on the passenger side of vehicles that stop there.
In the space of a few minutes on Saturday afternoon, The Courier witnessed pedestrians who were not going into Coles leave the footpath and walk on the road around the airlock. They then re-joined the footpath on the other side of the structure.
A City of Ballarat spokesperson confirmed that a planning permit had been approved for an external air lock in front of the store.
In a statement, they said they were looking into concerns.
It read: "On inspection of completed works, the City of Ballarat is not satisfied with the outcome and we will be meeting with Coles' representatives on Monday to agree on an outcome that will resolve the issue."
On inspection of completed works, the City of Ballarat is not satisfied with the outcome
- Council spokesperson
However, a Coles spokesperson said the work had not broken any planning restrictions. In a statement, they said: "Renovations to our store in Peel Street were completed in accordance with the approved building permit issued by Ballarat City Council.
"We will meet with them this week to understand their concerns."
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