One of the people behind the petition, Jean Ranclaud, sought advice from Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson about how to proceed with having the petition acknowledged at a state level.

She was advised she would need the original petition to present to Parliament.

Ms Ranclaud presented Gunnedah Shire Mayor Owen Hasler with a written request for the return of the petition following the protest yesterday morning.

Cr Hasler said there would be no problem with returning the petition.

Ms Ranclaud said she had decided to make the move after the Chandos Street work was made public.

“We didn’t know this [Chandos Street] was going to happen,” she said.

“I think this is the most ridiculous thing. You can’t get a park at any time if something is on here.

“And how are the caravans going to get around the roundabout?”

Ms Ranclaud, who used to be a truck driver, said she believed people would pass Gunnedah by rather than attempt to turn their long vehicles around the Conadilly and Chandos streets roundabout.

The petition, which was signed by more than 5000 people, drew criticism from a number of councillors who had received complaints that pressure had been put on residents of a senior citizens’ home to sign.

Councillors also said the petition had been signed by people who did not live in Gunnedah, and that the wording made it look as if the original Visitor Information Centre would be sold.

A speaker at the meeting yesterday said there had been no wording indicating the centre would be sold.

Mr Anderson said yesterday he would be happy to present the petition to the NSW Parliament.

He said the petition fell short of the number of signatures required to spark a debate in Parliament – 10,000 signatures were needed for the matter to be brought up.

Some of those who attended yesterday’s protest said the Chandos Street work had reignited their determination to have the VIC decision overturned.

A rescission motion brought against the council decision to relocate the centre failed last last month.