Fears for Golden Mile shops
A backlash is brewing over proposed changes to Wellington’s Golden Mile.
The plans were announced two weeks ago as part of the $6.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving programme and lean heavily towards removing private vehicles from Lambton Quay.
Two of the three options also propose closing off most sidestreet access from the quay, with existing intersections possibly turned into pedestrian spaces.
The proposals, costing up to almost $80 million, were developed out of initial public feedback late last year, in which 25 per cent of the comments suggested removing all private vehicles from the route. Another 5 per cent of comments suggested removing them at peak times.
But it is the suggestion of closing off side-streets – and potentially removing parking from some of them – that is causing retailers to fret.
Delivery vehicles could still be allowed on the Golden Mile at certain times if private vehicles were removed. Failing that, side streets would be used.
Cranfields owner Nicola Cranfield, whose store is on Johnston St off Lambton Quay, said the street would probably be too narrow for many delivery trucks to turn around in.
Her delivery company had advised that many of its trucks would not be able to use the space. ‘‘It’s a one-way street that will have to become a turning circle at the end. You would have to take quite a few car parks away to do that, and you wouldn’t get that flow of people driving past our business to see us.’’
These proposals would all ‘‘have a very significant negative impact on our businesses’’.
A premium would be charged if the delivery company could use the Golden Mile only at certain times, Cranfield said.
Simillimum Health and Homeopathy owner Michael Dong, whose store is in Panama St, also had concerns about trucks turning there. ‘‘It’s not going to be ideal.’’
Removing private vehicles and parking from the Golden Mile (Courtenay Place, Manners St, Lambton Quay and part of Willis St) would also be a blow to the business, Dong said. ‘‘It will drive more and more people into that online space.’’
Kristina Muollo, owner of Kristina Raffaele salon in Waring Taylor St, said removing car parks in the area would hurt nearby businesses. ‘‘A lot of us in the retail sector are concerned people are being driven out of the city. We need to encourage them back in.’’
LGWM is a joint venture between Wellington City Council, the regional council and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Programme director Andrew Body said side-streets would be assessed case by case. That included design, which vehicles needed access, as well as parking and delivery space.
A spokesman said: ‘‘Details of parking loss on the side-streets are yet to be worked through, and will be informed by public feedback.’’
Feedback closes on July 26, with the final proposal to be developed in September.