Retailers see no benefits in reopening mall to vehicles

A group of Hastings retailers, some who have been operating in the city for more than 30 years, say reinstating a road through the CBD won't breath more life into the central shopping centre.

Grieve Jewellers owner Robert Griffiths said he was disappointed only a few retailers on Heretaunga St had a chance to comment on a proposal to reopen the city mall to road traffic again.

"We don't see any benefit for us and I think we would all like to see the mall stay," Mr Griffiths said.

"There's been a lot of ratepayer money put into this central part of the city, we've all paid for it ourselves, it's the heart of our city and we don't want it taken away."

Mr Griffiths' comments were backed by Rona and John Simons (JA Simons souvenir shop), Barry Smyth of Hughes and Smyth Unichem Pharmacy, and Angus Thomson of Thomson Suits.

The retailers said they didn't want to be labelled "trouble-makers" but would like a face-to-face meeting with the Hastings District Council and the Hastings Business Association to hear the proposal to link the east and west retail blocks of Heretaunga St.

"Maybe they do have a plan, we don't know because we haven't been consulted about it, but let's have look at it," Mr Smyth said.

"The central mall area we have now, it's not entirely a green space, but it's a nice space that we can use to hold functions in the city."

Mr Griffiths said many visitors to the city centre commented on how beautiful the central mall area looked.

"You can see people taking photos of it from the roundabout, I think it would be a shame to lose it all," he said.

The retailers said they were not against any moves to improve the city centre, if the result would mean more patrons, but they didn't want it to come at the expense of the central mall area.

The council asked for public feedback on what it could do to improve the CBD and the Hastings Business Association had proposed Heretaunga St East and West be reconnected.

The association said it had raised the proposal at its regular meetings, sent newsletters to inform its members of the idea and continued to welcome feedback.

Hastings Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers said the council would meet to review pubic comments on the CBD next week.

"The overall plan for the council is to have the place base plan for the CBD finished by June," she said.

"There will still be a lot of discussion to go on and, certainly, if there is a big change, such as a road going through the mall, that would undergo thorough consultation."

Cr Bowers said if there were retailers who wanted their points recorded by the council, they could contact strategic projects planner Raoul Oosterkamp on (06) 871 5000.