City businessman David Bolam- Smith had a bright idea and wanted the City Council to support it. It took him two years to get the Council switched on to his way of thinking, but his scheme is now in the budget and due to go ahead.

His idea is to spend some money lighting up the inner-city bridges, to make the areas around them safer and more welcoming for strollers – locals and tourists – out walking at night.

The aim, he says, is to make Christchurch, “the most beautiful city in New Zealand, by day and night”.

“I made a submission two years ago, just in writing that time, and it wasn’t successful, but I was determined to keep at it,” Mr Bolam- Smith says. “Last year I put it in again and asked to be able to present it.

“I took in lots of visuals and they got the idea and I came away from that meeting feeling pretty confident that I’d made a good impression.” He had.

The draft Annual Plan now out for public consultation includes $30,000 provision for Avon River and central city feature lighting. The Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee has begun looking at options to bring Mr Bolam-Smith’s vision to life.

“I think people should take part in the feedback process if they have something they care about,” he says.

“I got a good hearing. Everybody at that meeting was very attentive and there were lots of questions afterwards and I came away feeling good about it.”