Submission on Oxford St partial closure and intersection works

We have received the following update on proposals to close Oxford St past the Strip. Note that comments on this proposal must be with CCC by 20 January.

Consultation details are are http://www.ccc.govt.nz/WebApps/ProjectNotices/ProjectView.aspx?ProjectId...

17 December 2008

December Update on the proposal to close Oxford Tce (The Strip)on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

Dear Submitter/Stakeholder

You will be aware that the plan originally proposed to effect a night time closure of Oxford Terrace “The Strip” has been abandoned and that we are working toward a new layout that will minimise inconvenience for local road users, especially those who use 24/7 car parking underneath and behind buildings in the area.

At a meeting held for local people on Monday 10 November, Inspector Gary Knowles presented photos from the Police Crime Prevention cameras operating in the area, showing how violence in the street has reduced significantly when the road through The Strip has been closed during the past year. He explained that the crowded footpath causes people to bump into one another, and that when there are heavily intoxicated people in this situation even a slight bump can result in an unpleasant reaction. In addition, the few vehicles that pass along Oxford Tce in the early hours of the morning are often hit by bottles or have to stop when intoxicated people lie down in the road way or slide over the boot or bonnet.

Gary then described how the Police are working with bar owners and operators, toward a reduction of alcohol and drug induced misbehaviour, and said that it is their view that closing the street to vehicles at night will make it safer for the police to do their job, safer for the patrons, and safer for drivers of vehicles.

The project team (CCC staff and consultant ViaStrada) then presented a revised plan for discussion. It was explained that a number of other projects are underway or being planned for the central city area. The aim of the project team is to ensure that these are now considered in conjunction with the street closure project. The original closure proposal included no physical changes to the road layout to reduce any expenditure on changes that may result from the other projects in the future. However in order to meet the access requirements of properties along Oxford Terrace changes to the road layout are now unavoidable.

A major central city project is the new Transport Interchange on Lichfield Street. Planning is underway and consultants ViaStrada are also involved with this project, which enables them to ensure that the two proposals are compatible and reduce the need for any major changes. Consultation on the Interchange project is expected to commence next year once the funding has been allocated.

Dave Hinman, Principal Adviser, Central City Projects, talked to the meeting about recent decisions made so far by Council regarding the City Mall project and the extension of the Tram route, which when/if approved during the LTCCP process in 2009, will run along Oxford Terrace, north to south, from Worcester Street to City Mall at the Bridge of Remembrance, then along the City Mall from west to east. This means that the direction of all traffic on Oxford Tce “The Strip” will need to be reversed.

Since the meeting the project team has drafted a new roading layout which takes these other central city projects into consideration while at the same time retaining access to the southern part of Oxford Tce near Lichfield Street throughout the closures and responding to some additional feedback received at the meeting on 10 November. The new proposed layout has the following features:

· Oxford Terrace becomes a two way road between Lichfield Street and Cashel Street.

· The direction of travel between Cashel Street and Hereford St is to be reversed (ie to travel north to south) so that the tram extension can be accommodated.

· Additional taxi stands are provided during the closure period, in Hereford Street and in Oxford Terrace south of the Bridge of Remembrance`.

· The left turn from Oxford Terrace (west) into Oxford Terrace is banned.

· Pop up bollards at the Cashel Street and Hereford Street ends of the Strip will prevent entry to the Strip during the closure hours.

· Proposed closure hours are now 11pm to 5am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

We are now aware that any changes will involve a lengthy and complex consultation process under section 336 of the Local Government Act to create a part time Pedestrian Mall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights 11pm to 5am the following day , which will require a Special Consultative Procedure (SCP). This process takes several months and can involve a Special Hearing for objections. Prior to embarking on this process, it is important that Council and NZ Police become fully aware of all the issues that our proposals might raise for local people and other stakeholders.

Please send your comments on this plan to me by email or phone: christine [dot] toner [at] ccc [dot] govt [dot] nz or 941 8355. We will start preparing for the Special Consultative Procedure early in 2009, so it would be helpful if you could respond by 20 January 2009 with your thoughts on this plan.

In the short term, Inspector Knowles advises that the Police will continue to implement one-off closures using their authority under the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act, when they consider it necessary. At these times it will be possible for tenants and property owners to negotiate passage through the closure with the permission of the Police Officers in attendance.

Council management and staff, and NZ Police want to achieve a safe and acceptable outcome as far as is possible for all parties. We thank you for your continuing involvement in this project and welcome suggestions you may wish to make or questions you wish to ask.

Yours sincerely

Christine Toner

Consultation Leader, Transport
Transport and Greenspace Unit

We received the following response to our submission re. the proposed closure. It looks like the original proposal is off due to problems identified in a number of the objections.

03 November 2008

Update on the proposal to close Oxford Tce (The Strip)
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

Dear submitter

Thank you for your response to our recent proposal to close Oxford Tce (The Strip) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

We received 53 responses, several in support of the closure in principle, but a large number (48) outlining a number of significant problems that the closure as presented would pose for them. In addition, a meeting of concerned tenants in the DTZ building provided further reasons for objecting to the closure.

As a result, it has been decided that the proposal as presented will not proceed at this stage. We have had more discussion with several parties, and alternatives are being investigated in a quest to find a way to achieve the NZ Police objectives while at the same time not inconveniencing you and other local stakeholders.

We are now aware that any changes will involve a lengthy and complex consultation process under section 336 of the Local Government Act, which will require a Special Consultative Procedure – a process which takes several months and can involve a Special Hearing for objections. Prior to embarking on this process, it is important that Council and NZ Police become fully aware of all the issues affecting other stakeholders, and that all parties understand the expected benefits of closing the road on the popular weekend nights, when the area is crowded.

You are invited to attend an Information Exchange Meeting for affected property owners and tenants of Oxford Tce.

This meeting will be held on Monday 10 November 2008
5pm–7pm, in the VSOP Bar at Liquidity Bar on The Strip.

Please RSVP to Christine Toner 941 8355 or Christine [at] toner [dot] co [dot] nz

At this meeting Inspector Gary Knowles of NZ Police will speak about the Police objectives and show footage from the CCTV cameras during ‘normal’ weekends in comparison with footage filmed during weekends when Oxford Tce has been closed to through traffic. You will be able to ask questions and raise any new issues not already communicated to the Council team (the list of issues already raised, all of which are being considered carefully by the design team, is appended to this letter). If you can add to this list, please send us your suggestions.

Some potential solutions being considered already could involve:

· other potential access and egress options to and from the 24/7 vehicle parking areas underneath and behind buildings at and near the corner of City Mall, including consideration of making the south section of Oxford Tce ‘two way’ and creating a left turn out of Oxford Tce into Lichfield St.

· a later start and earlier finish to the closure time;

· an additional night time taxi stand on Lichfield Street as well as the proposed additional night time stands in Hereford Street;

We will have more details for you on these ideas at the meeting.

Your thoughts on these will be welcome at the meeting or at any time by email or phone to Christine [dot] toner [at] ccc [dot] govt [dot] nz or 941 8355.

In the short term, Inspector Knowles advises that the Police will continue to implement one-off closures using their authority under the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act, when they consider it necessary. At these times it will be possible for tenants and property owners to negotiate passage through the closure with the permission of the Police Officers in attendance.

Council management and staff, and NZ Police want to achieve a safe and acceptable outcome as far as is possible for all parties, and we will welcome you at the meeting on 10 November or your call or letter on the subject. We have not set a closing date for this extended consultation period, as it is intended that a more formal consultation process will be implemented when a more feasible proposal has been developed.

Yours sincerely

Christine Toner

Consultation Leader, Transport
Transport and Greenspace Unit

Summary of feedback attached