<strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News Wednesday <strong>March</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 14 LETTERS Readers respond to last week’s <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News’ article on the proposed site for the new medical centre at Redcliffs I’m all for the medical centre moving and seeing the back of those old buildings. It’s a great idea. It’s my understanding that if the association had done their job in the first place the coastal pathway would actually go around the estuary, so it’s broken up anyway. Patients not having a medical centre for over a year while it’s being rebuilt is more of a priority than some equally ratty flowerbeds and some vague idea of economic viability? No, this is a good thing. – Gareth Davies, Redcliffs I am a long-standing resident of the Sumner/Redcliffs district, where I grew up in the 1950s. I am certain most responsible residents would agree that the availability and proximity of medical services, has always been essential, a prerequisite and accordingly is of clear priority over ancillary features in the neighbourhood such as expanded foot paths and/or cycleways. There is simply no justification or rationale to compromise or reduce the ability to provide essential medical care whenever it may be needed, emergency or otherwise. I understand that the present building and facilities have been outgrown and are long past their use by date, exacerbated by the earthquakes, but the suggestion that it should be rebuilt where it presently stands is somewhat farcical, given that the centre would have no temporary premises available to allow this and in all probability the present land area is anyway too small. I for one, would vote for the availability of a modern and close by medical centre over any cycle lane or pathway requirements and I am certain I am not alone in that. – Tony Edwards, Clifton Hill Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz I’m really surprised that the city council would even consider compromising the efficacy and safety of the Coastal Pathway to benefit a private business. The pathway was built at huge expense (millions of dollars) for all of Christchurch, not just for Redcliffs, and has been promoted as a safe way for local children to walk, cycle or scoot to the newly completed Redcliffs School. Giving priority to traffic across it, and forcing schoolchildren, pedestrians and cyclists to give way on it surely defeats the purpose it was built for. K S Bovett, Redcliffs Having been in business in the Redcliffs shopping centre for 46 years, I am amazed that the DEVELOPMENT: The new medical centre at Redcliffs is planned for this site. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN rebuild of the Redcliffs Medical Centre is proposed to take place at 95 Main Rd, especially when one considers the unsuitability of the site compared with the current medical site, which, with its very close neighbours, a dentist, physio, optometrist and Plunket, offers a compact health facility. The creating of a fourth arm to the current intersection creates increased traffic complications and thereby increased danger. The proposal also significantly undermines the integrity of the multi-million dollar Coastal Pathway, touted as a safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages. Further, according to the plans there will be a loss of on-street landscaping of approximately 70 per cent with no apparent requirement for the developers to reinstate the lost plantings. This is unacceptable, as is any decrease in freely available on street parking. The proposed development by a private developer offers very little and takes a lot. – Peter Croft With regard to the proposed change of site for the Redcliffs Medical Centre the following matters are of concern. Creating a busy driveway to intersect the Coastal Pathway is not a safe option. It goes against the intent of a clear access from the city to Sumner and negates the many millions of ratepayers dollars that were needed to create it. The danger to children using the proposed bisected pathway is of no small consequence – so dangerously different from their currently unimpeded access when using the pathway. If there is a suggestion to create lights to mitigate this problem, think of the speed that cyclists travel at as well as children on scooters. Access between the medical centre and local chemist is currently straightforward with the use of traffic lights. Yet more parking spaces will be lost which will affect the viability of the village surviving as a hub for the local residents. – LR Peek and MA Blyth •More correspondence, p16 Every new Volvo now has a speed cap of 180 km/h. But speed is not all we’ve lowered. The <strong>2021</strong> Volvo range. Now from $59,900. #ForEveryonesSafety 38 Tuam St, Christchurch 021 907 961 - Darren Griffith archibalds.co.nz For further information visit archibalds.co.nz/<strong>2021</strong>Volvo
Wednesday <strong>March</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2021</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News 15