A key part of the New Brighton revitalisation Master Plan — removing the pedestrian-only status of the suburb’s mall — has begun.

Late last month the City Council approved a report that kicks off moves to do just that. The pedestrian mall was set up under a 1978 Special Order. To do away with it requires public notification of the proposed change and that people be given an opportunity to have their say about it.

Kevin Mara, the Project Manager for the New Brighton scheme, says the Council approved the New Brighton Master Plan in December last year. Part of that plan includes establishing a one-way slow-road through part of the existing mall, from Seaview Road to Oram Avenue.

The slow-road issue has been debated and discussed at many meetings to do with the Master Plan. Mr Mara says the community is overwhelmingly in favour of the Master Plan, of which the roading change is an important part.

For the slow-road work and associated work in the surrounding area — which includes lighting, street furniture and landscaping — the Council has budgeted about $1.1 million of its $1.54m New Brighton Revitalisation allocation.

Anyone who wants to have their say about this part of the Master Plan — ie, the changing of the mall’s pedestrian-only status — should write to the Council or fill in the electronic form at www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay on the web. You do not need a stamp to write in. Simply copy the address shown below onto your envelope and drop it in the post. All feedback should be returned by Friday, 23 May 2003.

A hearings panel of City Councillors Chrissie Williams, Carole Evans and Graham Condon will consider any written replies and hear any objections before debating the change and recommending a decision to the Council.