Nor'West News: July 02, 2020

NOR’WEST NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday July 2 2020 5
News
Call for mountain bike track in Strowan
• By Bea Gooding
A NEW mountain bike track
could be a possibility for a park
in Strowan.
Plynlimon Park is mainly
used by dog walkers and for
sporting events. But Strowan
resident Edward Griffiths
believed the space could be
utilised more.
He also said the park has a
history of anti-social behaviour,
with people using it to take
drugs and sleeping rough.
“I have observed, in my eight
years living opposite the park,
that it’s very under-utilised,” he
said.
Last year, the city council
removed a number of trees
on the eastern boundary,
and since then local children
and teenagers used the clear
spaces to construct temporary
mountain bike obstacles.
“This increased the use of the
park and had an immediate
impact on reducing anti-social
behaviour occurring and
instances of people rough
sleeping,” he said.
“The number of people, young
and old, using these obstacles
has been simply amazing to
observe.”
Mr Griffiths said following
Ashley Smith
ISLANDS
its success, a neighbour took
exception to the obstacles and
had put up signs in the park
telling users to keep out and
that “riding mountain bikes
underneath trees violated
council regulations.”
“Following these actions,
the number of people using
the park plummeted. Since
then, it’s again mostly used by
people to exercise their dog.”
It was because of this Mr
Griffiths decided to write to the
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board, requesting
several permanent mountain
bike obstacles.
“The number of people riding
bikes in the park while they
were in place clearly suggests
many local people would
visit if there were permanent,
council-endorsed mountain bike
obstacles.”
He saw other benefits to
the idea such as the low cost
to construct and maintain,
POTENTIAL:
Makeshift
mountain bike
obstacles at
Plynlimon Park
constructed by
local children
inspired the
suggestion of
a permanent
fixture for the
community to
enjoy.
PHOTO: GEOFF
SLOAN ​
encouraged cycle lane use and
provided a destination for both
children and adults to learn new
skills.
Said the city council manager
of community parks Al Hardy:
“In the past 12 months, the
council has received one report
relating to anti-social behaviour
at the park
“Staff have been asked by the
community board to investigate
further and report back in the
next three months.”
In Brief
INTERSECTION UPGRADE
A proposal to improve pedestrian
safety at the Wairakei Rd and
Grahams Rd intersection has
been approved at the latest
Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood
Community Board meeting.
Cycle lanes will be installed,
along with road layout changes
to give pedestrians enough time
to cross the road safely. The
board requested a review of the
intersection in six months time
to determine if right turn arrows
will also be needed.
EDGEWARE RD CLOSURE
The east side Edgeware Rd at
the Barbadoes St intersection is
now closed for approximately
seven weeks. The works include
completing ducting, drainage,
kerb and channel, footpath
and traffic pole installation and
will be carried out between 7am
and 7pm each weekday. The west
side of Edgeware Rd has now
reopened.
WASTEWATER RENEWAL
The existing wastewater pipes
on Springfield Rd are now being
replaced as part of the St Albans
Wastewater Renewal Project.
The pipes have reached the end
of their service life and required
replacing. The work will be
completed in two weeks time.
Ashley Smith is an astute and witty conveyer of ideas
through visual means. Highly skilled, he’s as adept
with a paintbrush as working with bronze. Smith
exhibits regularly at Little River Gallery, his latest
‘Islands’ opens on July 4th and runs until the 29th.
‘Land Ahoy!’ …An island in the South Seas could be
a tantalising paradise of exotica and allure. It could
also be a magnet for emissaries of northern empires
with ‘Discovery and Conquest’ on their agendas.
Later arrivals would upturn its sands looking for
gold - in real estate rather than sea-chests.
Islands can also be psychological. Are you at
peace on your outcrop of perception - or are you
stranded, hoping for a life-line?
As we emerge from our imposed islands of
isolation (having repelled another invader) Ashley
hopes your day is warmed and brightened by
these quirky reminders of our unique geography
and landform.” Ashley Smith
two for
$5 50
or $3.20 each
our southern plains
sprouted grain & hemp
Packed with protein and fibre, our new
Sprouted Grain and Hemp loaf has a beautiful
nutty flavour, that will keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Ashley Smith
ISLANDS
4 - 29 JULY 2020
littlerivergallery.com
Main Rd, Little River | 03 325 1944
art@littlerivergallery.com
COUPLAND’S LANGDONS RD STORE
IS NOW OPEN!
148 Langdons Road, Papanui, Christchurch
(NEXT TO KMART!)