Selwyn_Times: October 25, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 25 2023
4
NEWS
• From page 1
At the Tai Tapu Community
Association’s meeting on
Wednesday last week, the
decision to close the road was
discussed. While the association
is unhappy about the decision,
it will not continue to fight the
closure.
When it was
up for closure in
May, association
spokesperson
and road user
John Ryan
threatened legal
action if council
John
Ryan
staff did not
produce a more
detailed report
on the forecast closure and provide
evidence for it.
With the intersection closed
it will likely only serve as access
for the one resident who lives on
the corner and access for farmers.
Ryan now did not see the
point in closing the road.
“Sealing the road and closing
it to through traffic is an absolute
contradiction and a waste of
$330,000 of ratepayers money,”
he said.
Despite the decision to close
the intersection, Ryan still
wanted the council to seal it to
hold up their agreement.
“The Tai Tapu residents are
only hanging in on the basis
that the decision has already
been made and at least it will be
sealed.”
The four options presented
to the committee were to close
the intersection (at a cost of
$330,000), left turn out only
($340,000), left in and left out
($440,000), and leave the intersection
open ($375,000).
Deputy mayor Malcolm
Lyall conceded the process was
somewhat backwards, with the
decision to seal the road preceding
the closure decision.
“I know the preference from
the road safety team is that if
you seal it might get more use
then create more problems.”
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
‘An absolute contradiction
and a waste of money’
Since the May decision
council staff had gone away
and produced a new report,
which included an independent
systems safety audit by transport
engineering firm Abley, which
concluded closing the intersection
would be the safest option.
Abley recommended not to
install a shared pathway for
walkers and cyclists, due to risks
with the SH75 bridge, which has
no pedestrian pathway.
Council staff said they would
take on the advice and discontinue
the shared pathway.
Access for farmers was the
main sticking point for some
councillors. While most equipment
can fit over the smaller
Ryans bridge on Lincoln Tai
Tapu Rd, some are too large.
Councillors Lydia Gliddon,
Shane Epia and Elizabeth Mundt
did not vote for the closure, as
there were no documented plans
for an access route for farmers.
Instead, they wanted a left turn
out only.
Council staff said they would
look at developing a traffic
management plan in which
farmers could access the road by
potentially climbing a curb.
The road closure and sealing
are due to happen over summer.
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