Road safety discussed at meeting
A long discussion on the safety of a New Plymouth arterial road marked the first meeting of a new council committee.
A safety plan for Mangorei Rd and two of its offshoots was discussed and debated at Tuesday’s first meeting of New Plymouth District Council’s new Strategy and Operations Committee.
The plans include more yellow lines, relocating a bus stop, pedestrian and and cycling improvements and narrowing the intersection with Rimu St.
Infrastructure manager David Langford said there had been 29 crashes over the past 10 years with four injuries, including a cyclist and pedestrian both getting seriously hurt.
The plans had already been tweaked based on community feedback, but at the meeting residents raised concerns, including the loss of parking.
The plans would see 59 parks cut to 17. Langford said on average only 13 vehicles were using the spaces at off-peak times – an occupancy rate of 22 per cent.
At peak times it was 44 vehicles, an occupancy rate of 76 per cent.
Councillors debated the pros and cons, with some suggesting more consultation and tweaking be done.
Councillor Gordon Brown said it was the test of a new council to sit and listen to the community. ‘‘They’ve actually said to us, hey we haven’t had enough opportunity to have input into this.
‘‘In all honesty I don’t think there’s much wrong that couldn’t be sorted out but we need to be listening to the people.’’
Mayor Neil Holdom said the council should not be encouraging people to have to get a parking space within 50 metres of their destination. ‘‘We’ve got an opportunity to change direction and say we’re not going to be ruled by the automobile.’’
He dismissed Councillor Murray Chong’s suggestion of more parking within New Plymouth Girls’ High School and asked what was wrong with dropping off kids further away from school and letting them walk in rain or hail – ‘‘harden up, princess’’.
‘‘I remember doing frost slides down Cumberland St on the way to school – it was fantastic.’’
Councillor Anneka Carlson said appeared they were missing a step.
‘‘It’s all good to encourage walking and cycling but what happens to all those householders who do have cars?
‘‘It needs to be a slow progression.’’ After much debate, the motion was approved and the project will move on to the detailed design stage. A separate report will also address concerns raised about the narrowness of Rimu St.
Councillor Sam Bennett was sworn in five minutes prior to the committee, having been overseas when other councillors were sworn in last month. it