55cd78e45193c715ec5778b4bb00447b
© 2024 The Gisborne Herald

Grey St fiddle is unsafe

1 min read

I am in complete agreement with Jen Brown’s sentiments on the Grey St debacle (July 31 letter). 

While it is true that “progress” is confining youth to concrete jungles to have those learning experiences which we refer to as “play”, the Grey St fiddle is unsafe to youth, businesses, traffic flow and local democracy alike. 

The ideology which teaches our youth that play areas for them can be installed safely on inner-city arteries is nonsensical in itself ... “a hopscotch area” ... Really?! 

Surely if that concept was a recent strut to prop up a project which was seen to be against the general public interest from its conception . . . it fails dismally. 

The photo published alongside Jen Brown’s letter shows very moderate traffic ... perhaps it would have been more probative to show the traffic at a busy time of day. 

This project clearly fails the consultation and safety checks. Probably no point in a referendum, as even when referenda are against such projects, I have seen several local bodies proceed with their wills — on the grounds that there is sufficient support for the council’s wishes to justify proceeding with projects unwanted by the most affected. 

Dennis Pennefather 


2 comments

commenter avatar
Bevan Moore
0
5 August 2024
I have just read an article showing Thorndon Quay in Wellington is getting similar treatment with unwanted obstructions built on their road too. It has happened in a similar manner. Who designed the Grey St shambles? Did Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust have a say in the design and sign-off approval on this Grey St shambles? At least I know to avoid Grey St from Childers Rd to Awapuni Rd now. I suspect it was pushed through because of Labour government approval to pay the bulk of the cost, despite the serious discrepancy between estimates and actual costs. Am I partly correct??

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Read and post comments with a
Newsroom Pro subscription.

Subscribe now to start a free
28-day trial.

SUBSCRIBE TO PRO
View our subscription options