Nor'West News: September 05, 2017

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4 Tuesday September 5 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi NOR’WEST NEWS Your Local Views $100 wager ‘claimed’ Businessman and Papanui- Innes Community Board member John Stringer writes about a pair of busy Harewood intersections City councillor Aaron Keown’s Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rds intersection “issue” is simply not a local priority. I live a few blocks from the intersection and have good-humouredly “claimed’’ Cr Keown’s $100 wager that his intersection of Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rd is the busiest intersection in Christchurch. It clearly isn’t and I live near Aaron’s intersection on Harewood Rd. But its good he’s advocating for the locals and a simple traffic island would solve his problem as it has on the much busier Harewood and Russley Rds intersection. Just 1km from Cr Keown’s tame four-lane Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rd intersection is the Harewood and Russley Rd intersection, which has 18 lanes entering and egressing a two-lane road. And Russley and Harewood Rd has no lights. It’s much more busy and would have 20 times more traffic than Harewood, Gardiners and Breens Rd. My intersection has a shopping strip, a school, a Playcentre and a church within 100m and the airport on the other side. And the only way for pedestrians or cyclists to cross my intersection is by literally going underground (through a tunnel). That beats Aaron hands-down. But I won’t be claiming his $100; instead I’ll be sending him a Monopoly $100 note or if he’d like to donate $50 of his $100 wager to a Papanui charity of my choosing I’ll give $50 to a Harewood charity of his choosing. Readers of the Nor’West News respond to the article regarding congestion at the intersection of Colombo St and Edgeware Rd Simon O’Connor – I came across the article about the Edgeware Rd and Colombo St intersection and thought I’d add something to the mix, if it’s still topical. I’m feeling it is very topical. Because as a result our city has become swamped by excessive use of road safety signage, lights and bollards. Visually it is noise. The quantity and usage of vertical poles and traffic lights is absurd and this visual noise is fundamentally wrong. The city sadly lost a lot of its charm six years ago, and we are no longer a garden city. It seems there are more metal poles and yellow plastic trees than gardens. We cannot constantly facilitate the needs of people who are cannot think for themselves or other road users. It is the majority of us that actually suffer. It’s like someone at the city council is shareholder in these traffic safety equipment suppliers. I drive daily along Colombo St, turning left on Edgware Rd, so here are my qualified observations: •It now takes longer as a journey, I usually could turn left in 10 seconds, by giving way to others. •I sit at the traffic lights for around a minute waiting to turn left, more greenhouse gas as I sit in congestion. •I sit at the traffic lights for imaginary cyclists who have their very own green light, but nobody is there? •Sometimes I have to wait for imaginary cyclists on two repeat instruction of the lights. •I see about two cyclists tops at 8.30am up Colombo St from Bealey Ave. •I know first-hand of a business on the corner of Bealey Ave and Colombo St who left her store due to reduced customers, lack of parking, and cycleway construction, which took months. Heather Wilkins – Be nice if they could get the intersections sorted. They may have turning lanes but they need their own turning lights and the turning lanes should turn at the same time like they do at Blenheim Rd where you come off the motorway, just like they do in Australia.
NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Tuesday September 5 2017 5 News ROADING: The city council installed yellow bollards at the intersection at Colombo St and Edgeware Rd. The light frequency needs to go longer for the minor roads off the main roads as sometimes you can sit in the turning lane for four turns of the lights and with that the straight through sometimes only gets one car through and it changes again. Half a minute on Buchanans Rd and sometimes 2min on Carmen Rd. Drivers then may not go through a red light. Kelly Root – Wondered what the green mess was for. Christine Carr – I regularly shop at Edgeware and cross the intersections with my hearing dog. We are both elderly and slow. The problem I have is with the maniac speedsters who regularly try to beat the lights LAwyERS coming up Edgeware Rd from Abberley Cres. With the building of the new restaurant next to the supermarket, foot and vehicle traffic is bound to increase. Hopefully the traffic lights will help regulate the road hogs. Not holding my breath though. A speed camera could be useful. Connie Kruse Christensen – With this area being used as a rat-run along Trafalgar St, the traffic lights now allow pedestrians to safely cross Colombo St from Bailies’ offstreet car park to St Albans Pharmacy, and to also safely cross Edgeware Rd to Super Value and the new cafe opening soon. It’s a great improvement for safety walking between these good local shops. North-west parking warden assaults •From page 1 But the city council said the new technology has encouraged staff to report incidents more, because the footage provided reliable evidence. The 21 parking wardens were given the body-mounted cameras in April last year. They can be activated if staff think their safety is at risk. “Our experience has shown that the body worn cameras have increased safety for our staff by lessening the seriousness of incidents and discouraging undesirable behaviour,” city council transport operations manager Aaron Haymes said. • By Julia Evans FOLLOWING IN the steps of Bic Runga, The Naked and Famous and The Datsuns, Shirley Boys’ High School’s Fuzhun and Run77 from Christ’s College competed in the Smokefreeockquest national final on Saturday. While neither band managed to crack the top three, Gideon Valavala from Fuzhun came home with the competition’s best vocalist award. Along with the award, Gideon He said previously a number of incidents went under the radar, but the cameras now provided reliable evidence. “This means it’s more likely that somebody will be held to account for their actions, and that encourages staff to report.” also received $500 for his singing. To earn their places in the final, Run 77 came first in the Canterbury regional heat of the competition and Fuzhun DETERRENT: City council parking compliance officer Luke Lee holds one of the body mounted cameras that are aimed at deterring assaults and abuse. PHOTO: CCC/NEWSLINE Mr Haymes said the city council was always working on initiatives that reduced the risk of staff being harmed. “We want to make sure our staff make it through their work day safely and get to go home at the end of each day to their families.” Shirley, Christ’s bands experience rockquest ROCKSTAR: Shirley Boys’ High School’s Fuzhun performed at the national final of the Smokefreerockquest on Saturday. came second. This year marked the 29th Smokefreerockquest competition, which pits the best high school bands from around the country against each other. We have over 40 years’ experience to assist you with… • Buying and Selling Houses and Commercial Property • Wills, Trusts and Estate matters • All issues facing you and your business; • Employment Law matters; • Traffic matters; • Advice regarding Retirement Villages • General Legal Advice on all matters Call John, Brendan or Andrew today 03 366 8996 Email. lawyers@mclegal.co.nz Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road, Christchurch 8042 Same Day Reline & Repair Service Available 6 Brynley St, Hornby | Ph 349 5050 Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-12noon HEAT PUMP SALE NOW ON! Amazin’ spring Specials!! • We will offer you the best quality brands and option of heat pump for your home/business • Providing Heat Pump solutions for over 15 years to Cantabrians • We personally guarantee all our products & installs for 5 years (providing annual maintenance has been completed) Phone us today for your free consultation & quote 41A SHAKESPEARE RD, WALTHAM PHONE 03 366 0525 www.enviromaster.co.nz “A local team for local people”
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Nor'West News: September 05, 2017

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