Deans Ave parks may be back

A Christchurch hospital park-andride site once labelled ‘‘appalling’’ by patients unhappy about dangerous potholes and flooding may soon be back in use.

Although a return to the muchmaligned Deans Ave site is being mooted, health authorities are promising a ‘‘new, improved’’ experience with a sealed surface, lighting, security and bus shelters.

The city council has granted a resource consent application from the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) to create 350 car parks on the

1 hectare lot, opposite South Hagley Park.

The health board in 2018 ended an agreement with company Global Edge to provide hospital car parking on the site after controversy about its condition. The CDHB had also raised health and safety concerns with the operator.

Instead, the CDHB entered into a

$1-a-year deal with the council to run its hospital shuttle park-and-ride service from the council-owned Lichfield St car parking building. At the time, the deal was seen as a win-win, as the car parking building was often below capacity.

However, since then demand has increased and there have been reports of people wanting to use the shuttle finding it difficult to find a car park in the building.

The council had not asked the CDHB to move its shuttle service, a council spokeswoman said.

The council approved the Deans Ave resource consent application on June 10.

A copy provided to The Press shows the CDHB submitted to construct and operate the car parks for staff and patients and visitors to

Christchurch Hospital. A 1ha site with 350 at-grade car parks would be sealed, and bus shelters would be provided. The CDHB submitted the car parking lot would be used for a limited duration of five years.

The council decision granting consent said the proposal would improve on the existing, informal car park by providing lighting, CCTV, security patrols, and a tidier appearance.

While the land was zoned residential medium density, the decision granting consent said the site was very unlikely to be developed in the five-year timeframe.

CDHB chief executive David Meates said the consent application was on behalf of a private developer, which Stuff understands to be Fulton Hogan, and all the necessary consents had yet to be obtained.