Pegasus Post: May 06, 2021

PEGASUS POST Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday May 6 2021 3
Council apologises for Anzac Day failures
• By Bea Gooding
THE CITY council has
apologised to the New Brighton
RSA following accusations it had
failed last month’s Anzac Day
service.
The city council was criticised
over the way it organised the
commemorations in New
Brighton involving the closure
of public toilets,
perspex remaining
around the
cenotaph, a degraded
flag and
lack of clarity on
a traffic management
plan.
Garry
House
However, an
apology was issued
to the RSA
acting president and secretary
Garry House last week, who initially
raised the issue, to ensure
this never occurred again.
“The council regrets that there
were a small number of issues
at the New Brighton Anzac Day
parade,” a city council spokesperson
said.
“We have the utmost respect
for our veterans and are committed
to working alongside the
RSA to ensure all Anzac Day
parades run smoothly.
“We have contacted the New
REGRETS: The city council has issued an apology to the
New Brighton RSA over accusations it failed the Anzac Day
service, including the perspex which remained around the
cenotaph on the day.
PHOTO: CHRIS LYNCH
Brighton RSA president to apologise
and ensure the issues don’t
happen again.”
The city council supports
15 RSAs across the greater
Christchurch area and manages
the Dawn Service at Cranmer
Square.
House was thankful that he
received an apology and was satisfied
with how the city council
handled the situation.
But members were “still quite
annoyed,” as the public had
blamed the RSA for the issues
that transpired.
“I am thankful they have
responded and contacted me on
several occasions, I do respect
that. We understand there’s not
much more that [they] could do
after the fact,” he said.
“But the RSA is still getting
calls; the public are blaming us.
We’ve had calls that we should’ve
been better organised.
“They think we own the cenotaph,
or the flag, but we’re just
the guardians of the ceremony
for the public of New Brighton.”
House’s initial concerns were
for the elderly people or those
with disabilities who could not
access nearby toilets as they were
locked, and called for the fraying
New Zealand flag to be replaced.
He was also not impressed to
see the anti-graffiti perspex still
remained around the cenotaph,
in spite of assurances by the city
council that it would be removed
in time for the ceremony.
The city council spokesperson
said the men’s toilets at New
Brighton Pier were closed for
health and safety reasons. The
nearest available toilets at the
playground, however, were open.
“We’ll work with our contractor
to ensure that health and
safety closures are communicated
more clearly to the public
in future,” said the spokesperson.
“The anti-graffiti perspex cover
around the war memorial was
not removed by the council’s
contractor ahead of this year’s
parade. We’ve had a conversation
with the contractor about this.
“The New Zealand flag flying
at New Brighton degrades very
quickly in the wind and salt
spray, and is
replaced regularly
– it was last
replaced in early
February of this
year.
“On this
James
Daniels
occasion, the
flag could have
been in better
condition for
Anzac Day, so we’re committed
to working alongside the New
Brighton RSA to ensuring this
happens for future years.”
Coastal Ward city councillor
James Daniels said he was
pleased the city council dealt
with the issue as soon as it was
raised.
“As soon as it was raised, it was
dealt with, so I’m pleased about
this,” he said.
“[The council] needs to think
about this year and make sure
that doesn’t happen again.”
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