Solution in sight for street’s car troubles
The days of car sellers leaving their vehicles parked up along the length of one of New Plymouth’s busiest streets could be coming to a close.
Transport bosses are hoping to bring in a bylaw banning the practice on Coronation Ave, where for years residents have complained about the number of cars with ‘for sale’ signs outside their homes – sometimes for days and sometimes for weeks.
‘‘The real hazard is when I’m coming out of my house and I’m seeking to turn right and all of these cars are parked there. It does make it very difficult to see,’’ resident Rob Kawana-Brown said.
A Nissan Maxima and a Mazda Familia had been outside his property for 10 weeks, while the registration of a Toyota Starlet parked up the road had expired in September.
‘‘It’s not like they’re just there for the weekend and trying their luck at selling them,’’ Kawana-Brown said. ‘‘It rained the other day and all the leaves and debris are against the wheel, so it gives you an indication of how long the car’s been there.’’
Matua Hamilton, who lives along from Kawana-Brown, added: ‘‘We’ve said to the council, ‘Do we have to wait until we’re scraping people off the road?’’’
As Hamilton was speaking a car drove slowly into the cycleway as the driver looked at one of the cars for sale before pulling
back into traffic. On Sunday, 30 cars for sale were parked along Coronation Ave.
Cars offered for sale are also regularly parked near Strandon on Devon St East and the corner of South Rd and Pioneer Rd has been a problem area in the past.
In other parts of the country a traffic bylaw stops the practice on state highways, but Coronation Ave, part of State Highway 3, is not covered.
New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) said it had been working with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to find a solution.
Temporary two-hour parking restrictions will be discussed at council meetings next month.
If this is approved it would pave the way for the existing traffic bylaw to be be brought in.
NPDC infrastructure manager David Langford said: ‘‘We’ve asked NZTA – which controls our state highways – to give us authority so we can manage the issue. This would enable NPDC to enforce the traffic bylaw on this part of the state highway.
‘‘We understand that NZTA will submit this proposal to its board for approval next month.’’
If the NZTA Board approves, it is still not known when the bylaw could come into force.
In a written statement, NZTA Taranaki transport system manager, Ross I’Anson, said: ‘‘We’re aware of concerns from local residents about vendors selling cars along Coronation Ave.
‘‘We are working through the process to give New Plymouth District Council authority to manage the issue when parking is found to be unsafe.
‘‘This is a complex process that is still underway and we’d like to thank the community for their patience while we work through it.
‘‘We understand people want to see a resolution to this and we are working hard, alongside council, to make the right change.’’
He said people could report cars if they thought they were creating a safety hazard, and NZTA staff would leave letters on vehicles parked unsafely, which could lead to it being taken away.