NEWCASTLE council plans to leave a power pole it has built a shared path around where it is, saying there is "adequate space" either side for pedestrians and cyclists.
But Pedestrian Council of Australia chair Harold Scruby has called for its relocation, saying the council has put pedestrians "at the very bottom of the food chain".
The pole, on the corner of Watkins and Helen streets, is in a path the council has expanded as part of its $3.1 million The Junction to Merewether cycleway.
A council spokeswoman said the pole would "remain in its current location" and its retention was "necessary" to upgrade lighting.
"The surrounding path around the pole has been designed as a shared path and provides adequate space for foot traffic and cyclists, with a 1.5m and 2m path either side," she said.
Mr Scurby said his organisation came across "examples like this every day".
"Councils putting pedestrians at the very bottom of the food chain," he said.
"How would it be if you were blind. You could easily walk straight into this pole.
"It also blocks line of sight at a critical point, being a pedestrian crossing."
The scene has been compared on social media to the infamous Wickham power pole debacle of 2019 when the council realigned a road but a pole was left protruding from the tarmac for weeks.
A spokesperson for Ausgrid said the power company had "not received an application for the relocation of the poles identified in Watkins Street."
The council spokeswoman said the section of path around the pole was open to pedestrians.
"Cyclists will be able to utilise the cycleway once the line markings and signage are installed at the completion of stage one of the project, later this year," she said.
Further along Watkins Street, the shared path is being constructed around a number of light poles. The council said four poles would be moved but most would remain.
"Over the whole project, 17 light poles will remain in their current locations and four poles will be relocated where the design was unable to accommodate their retention," the spokeswoman said.
"In addition, lighting will be improved at all pedestrian crossings to current lighting standards, as part of the project."
"The pole on the corner of Watkins and Helen Street is necessary to be retained to allow for the lighting upgrade at this intersection to improve road, cyclist, and pedestrian safety."
