Parking solution for Lytton West suggested

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Re: Got a solution to Lytton West Shopping Centre issues? October 13 story.

In 2013, shop owners and residents had meetings with the council and Mayor Meng Foon. There were suggestions of a Potae and Lytton Road roundabout.

I wrote a letter to the council’s parks and reserves department regarding carparks and roading in 2015, as follows:

I would like to discuss the possibility of a future carpark for the Lytton West shopping area.

Presently the whole area is getting congested and the area belonging to Peerless Kitchens and the House of Breakthrough is being abused and run down.

At Christmas time, the gates were locked and it was noticeable that Lytton West needed its own designated area for parking.

I have spoken to Mr Lance Rickard of The House of Breakthrough and we both agreed that if Gisborne District Council wanted to maintain the area, it could become the main carpark for Lytton West. The council would need to put signage up so the public would be aware of the public carpark. Also, maintenance would be Gisborne District Council’s responsibility.

Approximately two years ago, the council had meetings with the Lytton West complex and although a two-space carpark has been allocated outside the liquor store, there has not been much movement on improvements.

Lytton West is a very busy bypass and it is only going to get busier.

My personal idea would be to have a road from Potae Avenue, across the park, so it links up with Ruru Avenue and traffic is diverted to Ormond Road. This would give options and ease the congestion of traffic.

These are only my ideas and I hope they help Gisborne District Council’s future plans.

The manager visited me and said my proposal would be addressed in the 2016 plan.

Certainly there has been extra parking bays outside the butcher and bakery.

The area is in need of urgent attention. Another scheme would be to widen Potae Avenue, from the shops to the park. The grass verge can be reduced on both sides and carparks designed.

With Christmas and Rhythm and Vines due in December, the area needs urgent priority.

RON YOUNG