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www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Plea to keep traffic flowing<br />
LINDA.CLARKE<br />
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong>retailers have<br />
successfully lobbied<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong>districtcouncillors<br />
to keep one lane openfor<br />
traffic on East Streetasthe<br />
CBDrevitalisationproject<br />
bitesintotheir bottom lines.<br />
Contractors had planned to<br />
fully shut intersections at<br />
Moore, Tancred, Burnett and<br />
Havelockstreets to undertake<br />
workbut CBD business<br />
operators said that would be<br />
thefinal straw for somewho<br />
were struggling financially.<br />
Theretailers lobbiedcouncil<br />
to keep at leastone laneof<br />
traffic flowing on EastStreet<br />
during the reconstruction,<br />
though it might raise the cost of<br />
the$<strong>15</strong>millionproject.<br />
Councillors discussed their<br />
request last week in the publicexcluded<br />
part of theirregular<br />
meeting.<br />
While their decision remains<br />
incommittee, retailers have<br />
been told their request was<br />
approved.<br />
Retailers Chris Redmond,<br />
RichardWilson and Bob<br />
McDonald put their case to<br />
councillors last week, saying<br />
customers were beginning to<br />
avoid the CBD altogether as<br />
streets were ripped up and<br />
relaid and congested with<br />
machines.<br />
Mr Redmond said businesses<br />
andcouncil needed to work<br />
together before those habits<br />
became permanent and people<br />
didnot return to theCBD.<br />
Businesses were aware the<br />
CBDwould eventuallybe an<br />
asset for all.<br />
‘‘We understand most of the<br />
complexity involved and can<br />
Keeping traffic flowing on East Street is crucial for <strong>Ashburton</strong> CBD retailers.<br />
tolerate most disruption, but<br />
now it is causing astrainon<br />
business.’’<br />
The elderly weremost<br />
affected, many not wanting to<br />
navigate therough terrain.<br />
About90per cent of all<br />
customers mentionedthe<br />
reconstruction work.<br />
‘‘It is notall aboutthe<br />
retailers. It is about all the<br />
people in this town and<br />
anything council can do to<br />
mitigate it will be appreciated<br />
by the wider community.’’<br />
The projectshould be<br />
finished late November, but<br />
that is still eight monthsof<br />
grief forretailers, who have<br />
already endured earthquakes<br />
andthe pandemic.<br />
‘‘It is anotherthing on top of<br />
another thing on topofanother<br />
thing,” Mr Redmond said.<br />
‘‘Weare at the end, some<br />
need help.’’<br />
Bob McDonald said oneof<br />
his elderly customers wasso<br />
confusedbythe changes that<br />
she could not rememberwhere<br />
her car was parked.His<br />
business, Health 2000,was<br />
doing homedeliveries for<br />
customerswho didn’twant to<br />
come to the CBD.<br />
Cr Stuart Wilsonasked if<br />
keepingsometraffic on East<br />
Street would mitigate that,<br />
rather than completely closing<br />
intersections.<br />
‘‘Absolutely,’’ Mr McDonald<br />
said.<br />
‘‘If we can keep it open,even<br />
if it is one way with stop/goor<br />
traffic lights,itwill makea<br />
huge difference.The traffic<br />
can still go around.’’<br />
Richard Wilson said<br />
retailers appreciatedthe<br />
efforts of many<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
district peopletoshop locally.<br />
‘‘Postlockdownshowed that<br />
weare an extremelyloyal<br />
community and we are<br />
thankful for that. It is<br />
difficult.’’<br />
Mayor Neil Brownsaid<br />
council was listening to their<br />
worriesand working with<br />
retailers to minimise<br />
disruption, butnotimewas a<br />
goodtime for the scope of work<br />
being undertaken.<br />
Burnett Street set for pavers, sealing<br />
Asphaltwill be laid on Burnett Streetthis<br />
weekasthe CBDtransformation<br />
continues.<br />
Burnett Street will be closed to traffic<br />
from today until 7am on Saturdaysothe<br />
south sideofthe streetcan be sealed.<br />
Theclosure will enable concrete beams<br />
to be installed at the Cass Street end and<br />
pavers laid between those beams without<br />
traffic running over them.New kerbing<br />
works willhappen on the north side of the<br />
street, which will be asphalted overthe<br />
nextfew weeks.<br />
Pedestrianswill have access to all<br />
businesses on BurnettStreet at all times,<br />
though theymight have to walkfurther up<br />
or down the street to safely cross.<br />
Over on Tancred Street,adrinking<br />
water fountainhas been installed and<br />
litterbinswill be next whentheyarrive.<br />
On East Street,contractors continueon<br />
the gardens, timber deck areaand new<br />
rampto the railway pedestriancrossingat<br />
the topofBurnett Street.<br />
The scheduleofwork forthe<br />
intersectionsonEast Street will be<br />
advised soon.<br />
ContractorTruLine Civil broughtinan<br />
extra crew this weektostart installing a<br />
wastewaterpipeline in the westbound<br />
laneofHavelockStreet. Installationwill<br />
startacross from 255 HavelockStreet and<br />
continue to just shortofEast Street.<br />
The westboundlane willneedtobe<br />
closed while the work is being<br />
undertaken;the eastboundlane remains<br />
open.<br />
Parking could be limitedonthe west<br />
sideofthe street.<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>April</strong> <strong>15</strong>, <strong>2021</strong><br />
17<br />
Support<br />
for poppies<br />
praised<br />
TONI.WILLIAMS<br />
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Community generosity for the<br />
PoppyFlight to Mid Canterbury<br />
lastweek raised more than $650<br />
in donations andmoreis<br />
expected with theongoing sale<br />
of poppiesand stars.<br />
The moneyraised during the<br />
community event at the<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong>Airportwas for the<br />
Returned Services Association<br />
(RSA), Starship Hospital and<br />
NewZealandWarbirds.<br />
Volunteer organiser Dellwyn<br />
Moylan said money was still<br />
coming in fromtheongoing sale<br />
of knittedand crocheted<br />
poppies andstars which were<br />
available for adonation from<br />
Community House Mid<br />
Canterbury, at 44 Cass Street,<br />
each week day until <strong>April</strong> 23.<br />
‘‘Thankyou to everyone who<br />
supported Poppy FlightinMid<br />
Canterbury, knitting,<br />
crocheting, sewing, flying,<br />
cooking sausages, hosting<br />
Poppy Flight, attendingour<br />
(district’s)eventormaking a<br />
donation.’’<br />
The <strong>Ashburton</strong>RSA,onCox<br />
Street, also has poppies<br />
available foradonation, up to<br />
andincluding Anzac Day, on<br />
Sunday, <strong>April</strong> 25. Their official<br />
RSApoppy appeal, where<br />
collectors will be on the streets<br />
around town, is tomorrow;<br />
Friday,<strong>April</strong> 16.<br />
Someofthe knittedand<br />
crochetedpoppiesfromthe<br />
district had gonetothe national<br />
organiser who had created an<br />
evening dress whichisup for<br />
auction on Trade Me,called<br />
The PoppyDress.<br />
Threeartworksfeaturing<br />
someofthe poppiesmade<br />
locally will alsobeauctioned<br />
shortly to raise money.All<br />
moneyraised for these auctions<br />
will go to Poppy Flight<br />
charities.<br />
Volunteers Dellwyn Moylan and<br />
Judy Skevington with some of<br />
the poppies made by locals.<br />
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andwallet better.<br />
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