Nor'West News: November 01, 2016

NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday November 1 2016 3
News
Mixed response to mall idea
• By Andrew King
CHARGING Bishopdale Village
Mall businesses a targeted
rate, to be used to revitalise the
struggling area has received a
lukewarm reception.
City councillors
Jamie Gough (top)
and Raf Manji
suggested targeted
rates could work
and the money
generated could
only be used in
the mall region for
the purposes of
bringing in more
customers.
But the idea has
received mixed reaction from
businesses.
While the Bishopdale Business
Association said it was a good
idea, retail outlets in the mall said
they would struggle to pay it.
In September the Nor’West
News reported that the eastern
side of the mall was struggling
in comparison to the western
side which had more “drawcard
tenants.”
The eastern side mall has lost
“anchor tenants” Mitre 10 and
the Westpac bank will close
its doors tomorrow, meaning
remaining businesses are seeing
a lot less foot traffic.
Bishopdale Business Association
secretary Jenni Hague said
it sounded like a good idea.
“It would help the area look
better and having the businesses
involved is a good idea,” she said.
Sports World Bishopdale
owner and Bishopdale Business
Association committee member
Tony Ralfe said it would depend
on how much businesses were
expected to contribute.
“Some of us are small . . . but I
CONCERN: The idea of
targeted rates so businesses
can drive their own projects
in the Bishopdale Village Mall
has come with mixed reaction.
Long-time mall tenant Tony
Ralfe says the idea needs to
be fair. PHOTO: ANDREW KING
would be all for it if it was a fair
rate,” he said.
Others said small businesses are
doing it tough and would like to
see a detailed plan and more tenants
before any money was spent.
“If it was planned down to
the last cent then we could start
looking at it as an option,” The
Feed Shack Bishopdale owner
Miles Tracy said.
“It would be a better idea when
we had a full house,” Ma Baker
owner Nicky Garven said.
The businesses would be part
of a business improvement
district and Cr Gough said they
have been popular all around the
world.
A BID means the city council
would partner with the business
sector to improve a local business
environment and boost its
economy.
The way the rate is calculated
is established during the establishment
phase of the BID programme
and is tailored to best
meet the needs of the business
community it is applied to.
“I think they [targeted rates]
would be a good idea, if it was
supported by local business,” Cr
Gough said.
Development Christchurch
Ltd is meeting with businesses
to find out what they believe will
get the mall attracting customers
again.
Cr Gough said it was not about
the city council shrugging off its
responsibility but allowing the
businesses to be in control of
their own destiny.
•HAVE YOUR SAY: Are
targeted rates a good idea
to get the area back on its
feet? Share your views with
us. Email andrew.king@
starmedia.kiwi
In Brief
JONES ELECTED CHAIR
Former city councillor Ali Jones
has been elected chairwoman of
the Papanui-Innes Community
Board, with Emma Norrish
as deputy, at its inaugural
meeting on Wednesday. Both
served on the Shirley-Papanui
Community Board last term.
David Cartwright will lead the
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board as chairman,
with Sam MacDonald elected as
deputy.
CRASH STOPS TRAFFIC
Traffic was held up for about
an hour after a car rolled at
a Bishopdale intersection on
Wednesday. A woman was
rescued from her car and taken
to Christchurch Hospital with
moderate injuries. St John sent
an ambulance and first response
unit to the scene at 3.46pm.
ROAD CLOSURES
There will be no entry from
Rossall St onto Aikmans Rd
tonight while work is carried
out. The top end of Aikmans
Rd, from Papanui Rd to Akela
St, will be one-way going west
as repairs to a major wastewater
pipe, the Wairakei Collector, are
undertaken. The detour to get
to Papanui Rd from Aikmans
Rd will be Akela St, Cox St and
Office Rd.