By Cr Pauline Cotter, Innes Ward
By now you should have seen the information booklet on options, stages and priorities for the Northern Corrider downstream effects, providing you with the 4 drop in sessions to be held in St Albans March 20, 25, 26 and April 4, or visit ccc.govt.nz/have your say if you cant make any of these. Your feedback is valuable and important.
This project is the most long standing and controversial issue St Albans has ever had imposed on it, and emotion is understandably running high because this is something the community has strongly resisted for decades. Please make you views known; what you strongly oppose, what you support, any other ideas you have.
As the City Councillor for Innes I am aware of conversations in the community reflecting strong support for options like park and ride/cycle facilities, High occupancy vehicle lanes, traffic calming for vulnerable residential streets, slow zones, safety measures for pedestrian and cyclists, and protection for local businesses . These are all align with the Governments’ Global Policy Statement for Transport, will also contribute positively to our Climate change goals , and should be considered in that context.
I am aware too of concerns that traffic diversion away from Edgeware Village could have adverse effects on businesses, concerns around any proposed parking losses, effects on other local business areas, noise, emmissions, rat running.
I am also hearing that some residents would like to see nothing, or minimum treatment, with the idea that if its hard for the cars to get through then people will be more inclined to use Public Transport, park and ride or other alternatives.
So please continue to engage on this complex issue by making a submission by 15th April. There will be an opportunity for you to speak to a combined meeting of the Papanui /Innes and Linwood/Central/Heathcote Community Boards.
The final decision will be made by the full Council later in the year.
(Editor’s note: This article was inadvertently left out of a multi-part piece on the roads consultation in the April/May edition of St Albans News. We apologise to Cr Cotter for the omission)
