Shortcut plan could be ‘dangerous’
‘‘We were not told this was happening, and we did ask the questions.’’ Rob Feasey
Milson residents want to stop plans to change the boundaries of Palmerston North’s Clearview Park, out of concern it could create a dangerous vehicle shortcut.
The park runs between Dogwood Way, the cul-de-sac which is the main entrance to the Julia Wallace retirement village, and Clearview Way.
The city council has been asked to shave a 3-metre-wide slice off the edge of the park from the head of the cul-de-sac, to create access to 23 new building sections from each of the streets.
The change would allow a pathway to be created linking the two streets at the end of the reserve, and the council would gain a strip of land allowing a pedestrian path out to Airport Drive.
Eight nearby residents have made submissions to the city council’s sports and recreation committee applauding the proposed changes, but 10 others, including three who spoke at the committee’s meeting on Monday, have serious reservations.
Dogwood Way resident Rob Feasey said he had only moved into his new house at Easter, and had thoroughly researched plans for the area before buying.
Part of the value and appeal of his property was that it was at the end of a cul-de-sac and could be expected to be a quiet neighbourhood, he said.
‘‘It appears all of a sudden this is going to change.
‘‘We were not told this was happening, and we did ask the questions.’’
The draft proposal for the land swap was put to the sport and recreation committee in March.
Feasey said he understood access needed to be created for the sections to be developed.
But, he opposed having them join up in the middle, inviting through traffic to take a shortcut.
He said Dogwood Way was already narrow and congested with kerbside parking and traffic to and from the retirement village.
The prospect of encouraging additional traffic to move through would create more dangers, especially for elderly pedestrians who were often seen strolling around the top of the cul-de-sac to enjoy the open reserve views.
Feasey said another problem could be that air travellers might choose to park long term in the street to avoid airport parking charges and use the walkway through to Airport Drive.
City councillor Bruno Petrenas swapped roles to become a submitter against the proposal.
He said the path linking the two rights of way to the new sections should be limited to foot, cycle and scooter traffic only.
Petrenas said the link was intended to be a pleasant, paved, access lane to provide occasional use for the immediate residents.
But he said it would become a convenient shortcut, putting vulnerable users at risk.
It would place extra pressures on the unique cul-de-sac of Dogwood Way that already faced significant traffic issues.
He was also concerned about whether Horizons Regional Council would grant consent for proposed changes to the stream that would run alongside the pathway out to Airport Drive.
Another resident, Grant Honey, said he did not want the land swap to go ahead.
His fall-back position would be to accept a variation in which the width of the pathway link was limited to 1.5m, so it could not be used by vehicles.