Baldwin St battle begins
THE battle to restore Baldwin St to its place as the world’s steepest street is going global.
Dunedin surveyor Toby Stoff jetted off yesterday to the United Kingdom, where he will film an episode of the reality television courtroom show Judge Rinder.
And in a new twist, Guinness World Records will come to the party.
Baldwin St was dethroned in July by Ffordd Pen Llech, in the Welsh resort of Harlech.
Mr Stoff has concerns about the methodology used to determine the title, as the recordsetting bid was measured on the inside verge of a curve, greatly exaggerating its steepness and disadvantaging Baldwin St, which is straight.
Just before he flew out, he learned a representative of Guinness World Records would also be at the filming of Judge Rinder.
It marked a major turnaround, as the organisation had stayed largely mum on the issue.
‘‘So hopefully we don’t just totally munt that up; hopefully it’ll be good,’’ Mr Stoff said.
When asked what he was hoping to achieve with the show, he had a simple answer: ‘‘justice for Baldwin St’’.
‘‘We’re just gonna have to play it by ear. It would be nice if Guinness or Judge Rinder said ‘yeah, actually, good point boys, I see what you’re banging on about. Have your world record back’.
‘‘If Guinness were to say ‘yeah’, I’d be as happy as a bee with a bum full of honey.’’
When he first got involved in the issue, he never thought it would become this big.
‘‘It was going to be a letter to
the editor, basically, and that was going to be it, but it sort of escalated.
‘‘But nah, it’s a bit of a laugh, it should be good.’’
He will spend a couple of days in Manchester, England, to film the show before heading to Wales to conduct his own survey of Fford Pen Llech.
But those on tenterhooks about the verdict may have a long wait.
The result will not be known until the episode airs, which could be at least six months down the track.