Community feedback leads to project re-think

Preliminary concept plans for improving the Edgeware Village area are unlikely to be pursued in the short-term.

A project team has been asked to come up with ideas for some cost-effective minor changes that could improve Edgeware Village.

Earlier this year Christchurch City Council staff and the Papanui-Innes Community Board held a workshop with local businesses and residents to discuss design and layout ideas they were exploring for Edgeware Village.

One of the concepts involved changing the layout at the Edgeware Road end of Colombo Street so it could be used as a shared space that was more people-friendly and could easily be closed off for markets and events.

“We wanted to engage with key stakeholders and get some feedback about the ideas before we considered going out more formally. The fact that we are not going ahead with the ideas – even in a reworked form - shows this pre-consultation conversation with the community has been very successful,’’ says Papanui-Innes Community Board Chair Ali Jones.

“Some people felt the shared space plan had the potential to provide a focal point for the village but others said that now was not the time to implement it.

“They were concerned about the impact of the proposal on an area that has already suffered considerable disruption from roadway and drainage work and from the construction of the Papanui Parallel cycleway,’’ Ms Jones says.

“We are also conscious of the fact there are several projects due for completion in the coming years that may change the way people use the area – the Edgeware Pool development and the new St Albans Community Centre to name two.

“After reviewing all the feedback, the Papanui Innes Community Board and Council staff have decided to recommend the Council defer work ,which would have been part of the Edgeware Master Plan project, until those other projects are completed. ‘’

Ms Jones says the Community Board has asked the project team to come back to the Board in the next month with ideas for cost-effective minor streetscape improvements that could enhance the area and be completed with minimal impact on the businesses.

“This again is in response to feedback from those consulted,’’ Ms Jones says.