Safety tweaks upset village
Businesses based in St Heliers fear AT moves will hit hard
The Auckland seaside village of St Heliers is up in arms at proposed safety changes, fearing they’ll hit businesses. “It will kill the village,” says Sue Clark, who runs a property management and rental company in the village, the last along Tamaki Drive.
She is referring to a plan by Auckland Transport for 12 new raised zebra crossings, a new traffic island, widening part of Tamaki Drive and removing 40 car parks — all aimed to improve safety for people walking, riding bikes and driving.
The proposals sit beside a separate AT proposal for a 30km/h speed limit on Tamaki Drive outside the village.
Clark said “I have been here since 2000 and I have never seen any danger around here with pedestrian crossings. It’s a village. People look after each other”.
Her colleague Annette Wood-year-Smith said AT’s plans were ludicrous, totally unnecessary and being railroaded through.
Ayush Madeshia, who runs a small fruit and vegetable shop, said it is already hard finding a car park.
The loss of 40 car parks, he said, will mean fewer people shopping in St Heliers and could close his shop.
Two elderly shoppers who wanted to go by their first names were aghast at the proposed changes and the effect on businesses.
“Many people are elderly and need a park outside a shop,” said Liz.
“We don’t want anyone to touch St Heliers, thank you,” said Marion.
One Glendowie resident, Alfredo Mujica, liked the planned changes, saying they would encourage people to walk more.
Sang Cho, whose family have run Annabelles Restaurant on Tamaki Drive for 21 years, said St Heliers needs more car parks, not fewer.
He was highly critical of AT’s consultation, saying the councilcontrolled organisation had not spoken with the local business association before the formal consultation process.
“I am absolutely shocked at what they are doing. If they are arguing for public safety, where is the proof?”
Last night two rooms overflowed with more than 600 people at the St Heliers Community Centre, the vast majority of whom opposed the loss of car parks and added crossings.
Peter Jones, the chairman of the St Heliers Business Association, said the village faced a “serious, serious problem” with business closures if AT’s plans proceeded, but he looked forward to working with the council body to improve the seaside suburb in a way that benefits all.
All but two young men — one of whom spoke in favour of the changes — and one woman supported a vote to oppose the 30km/h speed limit and the pedestrian crossings.
Earlier yesterday, an AT spokesman said the changes were to make it safer. “There needs to be an easier way to connect the sea front with the town centres and we are proposing new zebra crossings to make it safer for people to get to their destinations around the centres more safely.”
He said AT is working closely with the community around their parking concerns, saying parking restrictions could be introduced to prevent allday parking and allow a better turnover of parking for those wishing to visit the centres and their amenities.
AT said between 2013 and 2017 there have been 39 reported crashes which have resulted in three serious injuries and seven minor casualties. The crashes involved four pedestrians, three bike riders, one motorcyclist and one moped rider.
Residents association acting chairman Mike Walsh said the AT proposal is not evidence based, will do little or nothing to improve safety and be bad for businesses and shoppers.
He said most of the accidents were minor dings, with only three serious accidents in five years. Only one of them could have been prevented by the planned measures.
Orakei councillor Desley Simpson agreed the loss of 40 car parks would affect business. “Businesses know how the village works. If AT had a discussion with the business and residents associations I think there would have been a better solution,” she said.
Consultation on the St Heliers proposals is open until April 30.