Featherston St freeze a success or failure?
Around 3pm on Wednesday, the Palmerston North City Council Facebook page asked “which song do you have on repeat atm?”
At the same time, the council sent an email to submitters on the recent Featherston St cycleway and roading upgrades.
The email stated in part: “At the meeting this morning, elected members voted to pause all construction activities currently under way as part of the cycleway and wider street safety improvements on Featherston St. The only exceptions to this pause are the ongoing manufacturing of concrete separators.”
The decision had been made to allow for a review of the project, particularly on the in-lane bus stops. A report outlining alternative options regarding these bus stops would be prepared for consideration.
Any further construction work on Featherston St would be subject to approval by elected members.
“Final touches on the two raised pedestrian crossings outside the two schools will be completed.”
The council meeting attracted Mark Bell-Booth, former Palmerston North mayor from 2001 to 2004. Bell-Booth spoke against the changes with Ebony Coffee owner Brian Holmes, who had lost business.
Holmes talked about the safety concerns of his customers. He raised a “safety review” of the Featherston St road markings, which he had received under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.
Councillors had not seen the document and it was agreed it would be circulated to all councillors.
The principal of Central Normal School, Regan Orr, said he and the school were “vehemently opposed” to the works. Orr said the changes had made the area less safe and accessible for its 500 students.
The mayor, Grant Smith, also remarked that he had been “quite shocked at how unsafe it was outside Boys’ High”.
This has been a hot topic in recent public long-term plan consultation meetings. Some locals are supportive but most seem opposed.
Some of the feedback online has become unreasonable, personal and abusive. Much has been very unfairly targeting one or two individual councillors for what was a majority 10 to 5 decision in September 2023.
Cr Karen Naylor suggested there was not currently community license to continue with the work.
The changes were under way, with contractors engaged, roadworks in place and as much as 90% of the costs funded by Waka Kotahi.
Cr Pat Hancock asked about the potential sunk cost of an immediate pause. One concern is that if the work is not completed by June, it may not be reclaimed from Waka Kotahi.
This could instead fall, unbudgeted, onto council books. There was differing initial advice given by council staff around the potential cost and loss.
The council will now pause work and report on alternatives to the in-lane bus stops. This was supported by a 13-vote majority, with Pat Handcock, Lorna Johnson and Brent Barrett against.
Councils need to be responsive to community sentiment and knowledge. Through public consultation the idea that councillors have already made up their minds has been repeated.
Wednesday’s decision proves that this is not the case. The council now has a very difficult job of reassessing, with most of the cost already sunk.
The 90% external funding could be lost, costs of reneging on contracts, and additional cost incurred if they undo or alter the already completed sections.
While the pause is the mark of a successful and responsible council, taking stock after concerns for safety from locals, it also appears to be the result of a significant failure in informed decision making.
Bell-Booth compared the situation to unpopular decisions in his mayoralty.
What the council does from here will determine if this will result in a safe roading network or an electoral nightmare and issue of legacy.
Stefan Speller is a governance board member, speaker and local government commentator.