Nor'West News: February 21, 2017

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NOR’WEST NEWS Tuesday February 21 2017 3
News
$541,588 crossing project
• By Julia Evans
A PEDESTRIAN crossing
costing more than half a
million dollars will be installed
on Sawyers Arms Rd.
The Fendalton-Waimairi-
Harewood Community Board
agreed to the $541,588 project at
its last meeting. It will include a
signalised pedestrian crossing,
cycle lanes and the relocation
of a bus stop between Cotswold
Ave and Glasnevin Dr.
While the board was
reluctant to agree to the signal
lights because of the additional
cost they added, it found it
was the only logical option to
improve pedestrian safety on
the road.
Pupils from Casebrook
Intermediate School, Cotswold
School, Breens Intermediate,
Emmanuel Christian School
and Bishopdale School will use
the crossing.
Before making its decision,
the board received a report by
city council staff on the cost
breakdown, ongoing changes
to the traffic corridors and the
impact of these changes on the
proposed pedestrian crossing in
the future.
There was also extensive
consultation with traffic
engineers around accident rates
and traffic volume.
Although the cost had
previously been an issue for
residents, resident Barbara
Purvis said she thought it was a
good outcome overall and was
very happy with the board’s
consultation process.
“It was very positive and informed,
they were very helpful
and asked good, sensible questions,”
she said.
Board member Aaron Campbell
said the body of traffic and
people using Sawyers Arms Rd
meant a controlled crossing was
the only suitable option.
City councillor Raf Manji said
a zebra crossing would have
been a good alternative because
only children and parents from
the schools use it and it would
cost a lot less. However, traffic
engineers said that the volume
of pedestrians and vehicles using
the road was too high for a
zebra crossing to be considered
and those numbers would only
increase after road upgrades.
Since the crossing was approved,
city councillor Aaron
TOGETHER:
Fendalton-Waimairi-
Harewood Community
Board member Aaron
Campbell (left) with
residents Bruce
Walters, Barbara
Purvis, Rosanna
McEvedy and board
chairman David
Cartwright worked to
find the best solution.
PHOTO: ANDREW
KING
Keown said another proposed
crossing 50m along the road
had to be taken out of the city
council’s long term plan.
The other proposed crossing
was for outside Cotswold
School, something wanted by
the school’s principal Stephen
Harrison, Cr Keown said.
However, Mr Harrison said
the school was pleased that at
least one crossing was going in
anyway.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What are
your views on the $500,000
pedestrian crossing? Email
julia.evans@starmedia.kiwi
In Brief
CHURCH REPAIRED
The St Albans Baptist Church will
celebrate its first service in its newlyrepaired
500-seat auditorium on
Sunday. The church had been holding
services in the cafe lounge while the
auditorium was being worked on.
The auditorium has been closed since
the February 22, 2011, earthquake.
PEDESTRIAN ISLANDS
Consultation has begun on a
proposal to install two pedestrian
islands on Grampian St in Casebrook
near the intersection with Jocelyn
St. The Casebrook community asked
the city council to look at vehicles
speeding in the area. The pedestrian
islands would slow speeding traffic
and improve safety. A report on
the proposal will be presented to
the Papanui-Innes and Fendalton-
Waimairi-Harewood community
boards in the next few weeks
RANGI RURU PROJECT
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School students
participated in a Japanese project
called Picture Happiness on Earth
last week. Miraikan, the National
Museum of Emerging Science and
Innovation in Tokyo, launched the
project. Science Alive! hosted the
project in New Zealand and more
than 100 year 10 students from
Rangi Ruru took part. Students
used scientific data to define their
idea of happiness and how future
generations can make steps to reach a
global state of happiness.
start
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ingham’s lazy sundays
katie thompson, August Fields & Volts
sunday 26 february, 3 – 4.30pm, archery
lawn, botanic gardens
Join us for the final Ingham’s Lazy Sundays
session for summer. Christchurch pop rockers
August Fields and emerging trio Volts will join
country singer-songwriter Katie Thompson for
this special three act finale.
NO JOINING FEE
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wherewe.co.nz
Pools, Fitness Centres,
Classes and more
children’s day
sunday 5 march, 11am – 3pm
cnr new brighton road and locksley ave
Celebrate Te Ra O Te Tamariki – Children’s Day
in this new Crown owned land green space
with your family for a day of free fun games,
rides and craft activities. A main stage will
feature performances from our talented young
people. Make Children’s day a new tradition
for your family.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SUMMERTIMES.CO.NZ
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