Golden Mile uncertainty brings closure
After 33 years of business in Wellington, Cranfields homewear store is closing its doors with its owner citing a lack of support from the council.
Nicola Cranfield, who has run the Johnstone St retail store for 25 years, said the business was doing well but uncertainty over the $140 million Golden Mile project had forced her to take this decision.
Despite the demise of Let’s Get Wellington Moving, the council had taken over the project to upgrade the Golden Mile and delayed the Lambton Quay construction until 2026. Although it was unclear how that might affect her business, Cranfield said it was time to find something else to do.
“With all the roadworks it would be chaos.” As well as disrupting businesses, she predicted the cost would blow out, resulting in a rates increase for businesses.
Her store could face years of disruptions and uncertainty, and she was unwilling to keep battling the council.
Although there were predictions that the Government’s move to downsize the civil service would be bad for the local economy, Cranfield said that was not a factor in her decision. She had been leasing the premises on a month-by-month basis and when her landlord found a new long-term tenant, she knew it was time to quit. “I just did not have the energy to look for new premises.”
The business had many loyal customers and suppliers and she was reluctant to close. She didn’t have a date for the store’s closure.
With the demise of Let’s Get Wellington Moving, a lot of people wrongly assumed plans to redesign the Golden Mile had been abandoned. The uncertainty over the future of that project created a challenging environment for businesses, she said.
Like other business owners, she had lobbied politicians and attended council meetings to make submissions – a process she found discouraging. Many councillors used their phones during submissions. “They don’t look up,” she said.
Some appeared to take the view that people like her were “greedy capitalists” only interested in making money, she said.
The business was started by her mother, Valerie, 33 years ago and she had enjoyed running it. An accountant by trade, Cranfield was uncertain what she would do next.
In March 2023, The Post published a letter from Cranfield opposing plans to take traffic off the Golden Mile.
“We need a city accessible to all, not just those with electric bikes living in the inner city.
“There is a real human and economic cost to replacing perfectly well- functioning roads and parking spaces with a bus/pedestrian/cycle-only mall. Businesses need decent access and car parking for our customers/patients/ patrons.
“We want WCC to have our back so we can commit to leases and employ Wellingtonians with confidence.
“I urge these councillors to put party politics and lofty ideals aside and make pragmatic decisions based on your city’s actual needs. Act for your city, rather than your political party.“