Makeover’s car park controversy
The transformation of Palmerston North’s Cuba St from a cardominated route to a pedestrian boulevard is set to get off to a delayed start in October.
Based on designs released in December 2016, the project upgrading the block from George St to Pitt St was supposed to start in March.
Although at least one dissenter remained opposed to the loss of car parks in favour of wider footpaths, lawns and trees, city planner David Murphy said consultation was finished, and it was time for the council’s roading team to find contractors.
‘‘We worked closely with landowners and retailers on the concept design and there was positive engagement with retailers.
‘‘We feel we have a significant majority of the street on board.’’
Murphy said some changes had been made to the original plan to remove 29 car parks.
The changes were to accommodate Hotel Distinction’s concerns about parking.
The owner of Manawatu House on the corner of Andrew Young St, Filip Van Den Hout, said he believed the council’s consultation had fallen short and the changes were unpopular.
Van Den Hout said reducing car parks was crazy, and the council staff who talked to businesses in the street about the changes did not seem to understand that people wanted a park close to where they were going.
Manawatu House was home to a daycare centre and there would be a reduction in parks in the vicinity.
Van Den Hout said that would make things difficult for parents delivering and collecting small children and their belongings, especially on wet, cold days.
‘‘They [council staff] say they can park around the corner in Pitt St, because it’s healthy for people to walk. That’s not their job.’’
Roading manager Jon Schwass said the project would go out to tender next week.
The money would come from a variety of budgets for roading and footpath improvements, and he could not discuss the likely total cost until tenders came in. ‘‘We’ll have to see what we get out of the contracting industry.’’
He said it was difficult to estimate how long the work would take.
The project was likely to be staged, with a lull during the leadup to Christmas and New Year, and the council would work with the selected contractor on how best to manage the work and reduce disruption for retailers.
The council would negotiate with the selected contractor to get the best result.
While the council worked on consultation and refining the plans, city councillor Leonie Hapeta said the uncertainty about when the work would be done was difficult for the public.