The Lichfield/Tuam proposal – moving the eastbound arterial road to Tuam Street and making Lichfield Street a two-way local road – grew out of the City Council central city revitalisation strategy. The thinking is that it would have advantages for the city, with reduced congestion in the inner city core, benefits for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, and would lead to amenity improvements along the Avon River.

After reviewing feedback from a 10-week consultation, the Council’s Sustainable Transport and Utilities (STU) Committee is recommending that the review continue and that a working party be set up.

If accepted by the full Council this month it would have five STU Committee members (Councillors Carole Evans, Chrissie Williams, Ron Wright, Sally Buck and chairman Denis O’Rourke), the chairman of the Mayoral Forum or his nominee, two representatives from central city businesses (one to be nominated by the Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce), Environment Canterbury Councillor Diana Shand, a road-user nominee from the New Zealand Automobile Association and a representative of the cyclists group Spokes.

The STU recommendation also asks that a report on the Council’s Hagley Avenue cycleway proposal be resubmitted to it.

A staff report on the street swap scheme suggested a working party would help to find ways of dealing with concerns about the scheme.

During the scheme’s 10-week consultation period more than 700 people and groups wrote in, with just under 80 per cent against aspects of the proposal. About 17 per cent either agree or strongly agree with it.

The people who say they like the idea are more likely to either live in the inner city or be public-transport users or cyclists. The main concerns of those opposed say that a one-way Tuam Street will hurt businesses there and on High Street or that the scheme will confuse drivers and so discourage them from coming into the city for shopping and recreation.

The STU report says Lichfield Street is key to dealing with future central-city traffic jams and assisting a smooth and efficient public transport system.