Riccarton Rd under more pressure during lockdown
THERE are major issues arising from the use of Mosgiel’s Riccarton Rd east and west at most times, but especially during the lockdown.
The road is continually being used by traffic, both heavy and light, as a major bypass highway. The status of the road, according to the Dunedin District Plan roading hierarchy, is clearly marked out as both a local (east) and collector (west).
The speed limit on the road is 50kmh in the residential area, and 80kmh in the rural area. The 80kmh speed limit in the rural sector is being broken on a regular basis, especially by heavy traffic, particularly two major transport companies in the area, and many other heavy and light vehicles.
The road is having a major influx during lockdown of both cyclists and walkers, whose lives are at risk from a lack of council action in maintaining the road’s use as a local and collector.
The road is described in a council document as being unsuitable in its present form and status, yet council continually turns a blind eye on residents’ concerns about the road. Council has gone to great lengths with other city roads in an effort to have traffic calming. When can residents of Riccarton Rd expect the council to treat all roads as to their hierarchy status, rather than favouring a few? Brian Miller
Mosgiel [Abridged]
Cromwell prescriptions
WE fully support the correspondence to date regarding prescriptions being sent to an Auckland chemist for dispensing . This action flies completely in the face of the fantastic community spirit which we have enjoyed in our over 20 years in Cromwell. Furthermore, our local chemist provides excellent friendly service together with extremely helpful advice on matters affecting our health.
The management of the Cromwell
Medical Centre should commence sending all scripts to the local pharmacy immediately.
Helen and Bill Dunbar
Cromwell
Farming priorities
WHILE the president of Federated Farmers, Katie Milne, may be right in saying the the current coronavirus crisis will change the public's perception of farming, that cannot be allowed as an excuse to roll back or cancel the progress to better farming practices, unsubsidised by degraded freshwater health, dwindling indigenous biodiversity and consequently declining human health.
Advances in farming practices which integrate farming with improvements to freshwater health and indigenous biodiversity will make for a better New Zealand for all to live in, and postCovid19, that is where national priorities must lie.
Other primary industries will undoubtedly be seeking to wind back or cancel measures to protect and enhance our collective environment because of the pandemic. We, and government, cannot allow that to take place, and our constant vigilance is required.
Paul ElwellSutton
Haast
‘ODT’ praise
OBVIOUSLY Covid19 has enabled far too many people with far too much time, like myself, to inundate you with correspondence.
However, I also would like to congratulate you on the continual great content of the Otago Daily
Times.
I believe you have the perfect mix of humour (love Jim from Patearoa), regional and local news.
Your editorials are succinct and informative. Keep up the good work, and thank you.
Richard Hutchison
Wanaka