Transport plan could spell bad news for businesses in Dunedin

THANK you for your sensible assessment of the problems looming for our traffic management in the CBD (ODT, 19.1.21) between the George St plan and the proposed oneway system adjustments for the hospital.

Many Dunedin people have been trying to get this message through to our city planners and councillors with minimal success.

The potential impact on our retail sector, and on people commuting from one side of the city to the other, will be substantial.

If there are currently 30,000 car movements through the oneway streets daily, how many more will be added once George St becomes oneway, contrary to the consultant’s recommendation?

I walked to the city from Shiel Hill to see the veteran cars in the Octagon, and following their departure, I did some city shopping (a rarity these days) then caught the bus home.

I was shocked to see the lack of vibrancy around the area, and the small number of people shopping or browsing.

In the past, I would have expected the CBD to be humming after the event that used to indicate the start of festival week in the city. The eateries were quiet, and many shops totally empty of customers in the middle of the day.

It was a disaster to see everything looking exactly as is being predicted by the area stakeholders if the George St project proceeds as oneway.

We need to see some traffic modelling done after the school holidays finish so we can fairly assess the impact of any direction changes on the whole area, along with the effect on the slowly diminishing CBD parking.

If Saturday’s lack of people in the city is indicative of the future, I have serious concerns about the continued viability of our loyal local businesses. Janine Race

Shiel Hill

Library addition

WE hear Jim Sullivan has been asked if the Patearoa Library, after its recent cull, has a shelf or two free for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library?

Space needed for charts, rolls of Twitter posts and folios of executive orders?

Or is this yet another lie?

Susan and Roger Jones

Fairfield .....................................

BIBLE READING: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. — Joshua 1.9.