Western News: February 26, 2019

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4 Tuesday February 26 2019 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Your Local Views WESTERN NEWS Local News Now Fire rages, homes at risk Students – get to know your neighbours Riccarton Neighbourhood Support Group chairman Richard Lee writes about the opportunities students moving into the area have to connect with their neighbours OVER THE LAST couple of weeks, a number of properties in Riccarton have been rented out. The EcoShop on Blenheim Rd has become busy again over the weekends with young people buying up second-hand mattresses and used furniture. The kitchen utensils and household items needed to start a flat are being snapped up from the likes of The Warehouse and Kmart. The transient group of mainly tertiary students has begun OVER THE FENCE: As Canterbury University students move into Riccarton, Richard Lee offers a few tips on how they can get to know their neighbours. moving into our rather diverse community for the start of the academic year. As a community, we would like to extend a warm welcome to our new neighbours who have decided to make Riccarton their home away from home. There are plenty of opportunities for new residents to connect with their neighbours. They are welcome to join us at the Riccarton Neighbourhood Support Group meetings. The meetings are held at 6pm every first Wednesday of the month at the Riccarton Baptist Church, 80 Rattray St. Go along and listen to the invited speakers talk on a variety of topics of interest to the community and make some new friends. Take a plate to share with the community. Last year, the neighbourhood support group became the caretaker of a mini-birdhouse cabinet structure which holds donated books for everyone in the community to borrow. The structure was built and installed as part of a course project undertaken by a group of Canterbury University students. The neighbourhood also has a community garden and pantry which is always in need of volunteers to help out. Through the years, we have also had students helping out at the garden. All residents are welcome to participate in the community activities being organised throughout the year. The monthly Riccarton Community Newsletter lists the various activities and happenings in the neighbourhood. •For more information on what is happening in Riccarton, go to https:// riccarton.org.nz/ Readers respond to an article about a planned upgrade of the Middleton, Ilam and Riccarton Rds intersection, the fourth most dangerous in the city Dave Young – It’s not rocket science, they have only to set up the intersection as two T-intersections with their own traffic light phases, not the stupid phases they have there at present. One phase for Middleton Rd. Then a phase for Riccarton Rd then a third phase for the other street and do away with the lefthand free turn. Sarah Smith – It’s the one I avoid – can’t avoid my local one, Marshland/Briggs/Lake Terrace Rds intersection, though. It’s a pretty bad one that needs green arrows on all sides. Fiona Ward – Surely it would be easier and more effective to alter the light sequences so that each direction has a “right-turn arrow” phase. There are so many tricky/busy intersections in Christchurch that don’t have them and need them. It makes no sense. Holly Traxler-Puddle – This is a very confusing and tough intersection because the roads don’t come to a pronounced four-corner intersection. That yellow road sign on the far left should actually be painted on the road too. Mandy Paget – So it’s not the intersection, it’s the drivers? Dimity Church – It’s an easy one, no right-hand turns all done. Arleen Campbell – Hate this intersection, so dangerous. Jane Hughey – Oh well, it’s okay, they will just keep putting in more traffic lights, where they aren’t needed and more accidents will keep happening at dangerous intersections. Heather Wilkins – This intersection has been like this since I can remember and I’m in my 60s now. You were just a bit more cautious when you went through it. Give way or stop signs were worse. Mary Jean – Very poorly designed intersection. Glyn Owen – Sit a police car there for a while, or even a cardboard cut out one. Barry Clarke – If they have green right turning arrows that would make it safer. Vicki Bennie – About time. Jacque Skinner – Seriously? How can they say this is a dangerous intersection when it has lights? Just go when the light DANGEROUS: A safety upgrade is being planned for the Middleton, Ilam and Riccarton Rds intersection. is green and you have a space – not rocket science. Try driving through or across the Breens/ Harewood/Gardiners Rds intersection at busy times of the day with no lights where there are constant fender-benders and nasty accidents, plus kids getting clipped by cars. That’s a dangerous intersection. Alison Westrupp – A roundabout? Pam Dench – Just change the light phases. Simple fix, not millions of dollars on an upgrade. Carlos Capinpin – Really bad, I’m avoiding that Middlleton-Ilam way, so confusing. Kathryn Macgregor – Needs a roundabout by looks. Mel Sherwood – This is the worst intersection ever, I live right by it and we were saying yesterday something needs to be done. A sad farewell 1 Henley Green, Northwood | $649,000 3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | 1 living room | 1 dining room | 2 car-garage | 1 off-street park | Listing BE193223 Your agent, Your home, Your future LICENSED SALES CONSULTANT REAA 2008 Having purchased their next home, it is time to say goodbye to this lovely townhouse. Located on the corner of Glen Oaks Drive & Henley Green, two sought after streets in Northwood, this home will be a delight to live in. Your privacy is assured with the classic hedge fencing that creates a quiet oasis to enjoy your lovely garden and patio. Step in through the front door and choose between a charming lounge to settle down in or carry on down past the kitchen to your living/dining room with its own patio to enjoy a coffee and croissant each morning. Upstairs you will find three double bedrooms, the master with ensuite and the family bathroom. All tastefully furnished - no need to do any renovations here before you move in. Located only a few minutes from the Airport and with the large shopping complex opposite Northwood you have everything you need right on your doorstep. The easy care garden will leave your weekends free for hobbies, and this home would make an ideal lock up and leave for extended holidays, safe in the knowledge that you are in a secure location. 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WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Tuesday February 26 2019 5 News Local News Now Community groups in online spat Fire rages, homes at risk • By Georgia O’Connor-Harding A SPAT HAS broken out between two Facebook community pages in Halswell. Resident Greig Russell has hit out at the administrators of the Halswell Community Group page for being “ousted” from the group of nearly 11,000 members for speaking his mind. He was removed from the page when he posted a Chrys Horn mobile phone number online. Mr Russell since set up a new page called Halswell Community Page Uncensored with a catchphrase of #LETSMAKE- HALSWELLGREATAGAIN “They ousted me out of the community. Short of pitchforks and tiki torches that is what they have done,” he said. Mr Russell was returning home from a fishing trip in Greta Valley when he came across a group of men stranded due to having a flat tyre. He lent the men his spare wheel to enable them to get home and got one of their mobile numbers. Mr Russell said the men had promised to return the spare wheel the next day, but nothing eventuated and they would not return his phone calls and blocked his number. To pressure the man, he asked members of the Halswell Community Group to phone the number and ask for the wheel’s return. It was returned after about a week. But Halswell Community Project chairwoman and one of the administrators Chrys Horn said it was harassment and would not be tolerated. “The trouble is people put up stuff and they make allegations. We have had quite a few times that has happened and the poor person on the receiving end has no idea what was going on”. But Mr Russell responded saying it “absolutely” was not harassment. He said he did ARGUMENT: Halswell resident Greig Russell said he was ousted out of the Halswell Community Group Facebook page. something about his wheel being stolen and he got a result. “Someone was trying to rip me off. You put yourself in my situation. You have got a phone number that is all you have got. What are you meant to do if they block you?” He said there is no consistency in the Halswell Community Group rules and if posts up not up to their dictation they will shut it down. But Dr Horn said it is the Halswell Community Project’s page and it has clear rules people need to follow. “If people step outside those and they don’t take no or an answer then we block them and that is just the way the world works. “Dr Horn said it is a large group to monitor and because the administrators have a lot going on in their lives, they do not always catch posts breaking their rules right away. The group has a wide range of policies including group members being unable to advertise businesses, abuse or make racial comments, complain about organisations or make posts containing sexual references or innuendo. On the Halswell Community Page Uncensored Mr Russell said as long as people “keep it civil” they will not get shut down. Dr Horn said the group doesn’t bare many grudges and she would like to reinstate Mr Russell when things settle down and if the other administrators agree. But she said several of the administrators on the Halswell Community Group have been blocked from the Halswell Community Page Uncensored. Owner sees thief stealing tools from van • By Georgia O’Connor-Harding A THIEF WAS seen attempting to steal tools from a work van in Halswell. Electro-Tech Services owner Stephen Walker was driving to his Aidanfield home in another vehicle when he spotted a man inside his work van. The man had broken into the van through the side window. Mr Walker pulled up outside his property as the man began to walk down the driveway towards the street, holding two tool cases. One tool kit contained electrical hand tools while the other was a drill and battery kit. The tool kits were worth several thousand dollars together, Mr Walker said. Mr Walker then confronted the thief. “I pulled over and wound down the window and said: ‘Hey mate, best you put that back and we will call it quits’,’’ he said. The man then turned around and placed the tool kits beside the van. The man then walked out of the driveway past Mr Walker’s car. As he walked past, Mr Walker pulled out his camera and told the thief to “smile for the camera”. “He then put his hands over his head and ran past me at a million miles an hour,” Mr Walker said. Mr Walker then called the police and began to follow the man before losing him. Mr Walker drove around a couple of streets looking for the man before police told him to return to his home. The incident took place on February 16 at about 2pm. A police spokeswoman said inquiries were conducted at the time but did not locate the man. Mr Walker said police responded “really quickly” which was good. Inquiries are ongoing. 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Western News: February 26, 2019

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