Time for a traffic-free or slower speed zone through Takaka CBD?
Prompted by a letter to the editor by Martine Bouillir last week, The GB Weekly is asking for readers’ ideas and thoughts on the issue of creating a traffic-free or slow traffic zone through Takaka’s central business district (CBD).
Martine raised the issue after witnessing a toddler rush out from between parked cars. While dashing across Commercial Street, they were just missed by a courier van by the breadth of a hair.
“I had so much positive feedback to my letter, it really grabbed the attention of so many people. I tried to approach this from the positive. What can we all do together and make our town more attractive? I think even little steps can work us towards it: some banners maybe across mainstreet with a friendly message, saying ‘we are a relaxed community, slow down’, could improve the traffic flow.”
For business, a traffic-free or reduced speed zone could have many benefits too, says Martine, and allowances could be made for people who absolutely had to use their vehicle and the odd delivery van.
“Business has nothing to lose in supporting this idea and many businesses have a back access for deliveries. It would be a great asset for our town, where people could wander around town at their leisure and children could have a safe place to be, walk or to ride their bikes.”
Community Board chairman Joe Bell reflected on the history of failed attempts to create a traffic-free pedestrian zone in the CBD.
“There have been many efforts made over the years for a traffic bypass for Commercial Street, and there has never been any opposition to my knowledge, but it has never been adopted by the authorities, and a heavy traffic bypass would have to be a public process. One idea was to bypass traffic from Willow Street to Reilly Street, and when that was not supported by the State Highway agency then people tried to get traffic to bypass via Motupipi and Meihana Streets, but this was not formally supported by TDC.”
However, to alleviate the problem, the Road Tansport Forum, an association of truck operators, was contacted years ago and asked to avoid the CBD with their trucks, and this proved to be a good move in hindsight.
“We are really grateful to the truck operators who have been very obliging in avoiding the town centre. They have been great,” said Joe. “Commercial Street is so narrow, quite a few people have been knocked off their bikes, you have to be so careful when leaving and entering your vehicle.”
In 1995, Welling landscape architect Jim Beard designed a wonderful and quirky concept plan for the township. Unfortunately, the idea of reducing the traffic in the CBD has been dropped off the 10-year plan as being in the too-hard basket, though a speed reduction could still be a possibility.
“I support a speed reduction,” said Joe. “I have seen this work very well in other places where they have courtesy zones on streets that are much wider than Commercial Street,” he added. “A petition could also be really helpful; it would give an informal response which could then be presented to the authorities.”
Ina Holst
