“Stop ripping our community apart.”
That’s the plea from Tahunanui Business Association member John Gilbertson who says business owners are now so fed up they’re ready to march in protest at a shelved report from New Zealand Transport Agency into the best option for traffic at the Tahunanui lights. At a meeting last week – initially planned to discuss the findings of the report – the business association says it came up with a simple solution to the problems with the clearways at the lights – get rid of them.
John says businesses along the strip opposite KFC have noticed a drop in business since clearways were put in when the lights were established several years ago. Their solution would be to get rid of the clearways and return the intersection to just one lane each way.
“They [NZTA] say they can’t finish the report until the results of the Rocks Rd study is finished so we are just stuck with it the way it is until then,” says John. “But we are saying enough is enough, this is destroying our community and we won’t wait. We are saying ‘why don’t you just use a bit of paint, make it one lane and see how it goes until you can finish the study? Our solution will also ensure the viability of the businesses and services that are currently under threat.”
The business association, along with the Tahuna Community Centre, were unanimous in their decision to protest the inaction from NZTA and John says the community is being ripped apart by the traffic on the road. He supports the proposed southern link being built but says that’s not what this action is about. Businesses just want their car parking restored and if that means more of a wait for commuters then tough luck, he says.
“They say traffic will be held up by an extra four minutes at peak times without the clearways. But four minutes is nothing, especially when you’ve got the nice view off Rocks Rd to look at while you wait, it’s hardly a chore is it?” says John.
The association says Tahunanui will not continue to be Nelson’s “Cinderella community” and a protest march will be held on August 9.
“Tahunanui has one of the most beautiful city beaches in the country. Access and enjoyment of this gem continues to be eroded by the increasing presence of heavy freight, which is also tearing the heart out of our community and threatening the future of our local businesses,” he says.
