Businesses upset at carpark threat

MAPPED: The neighbourhood plan for First St.

Lansdowne residents will see if the grass really is greener after the council decide to formally adopt a revised Lansdowne Village Plan which involves replacing a carpark with green spaces.

The plan aims to bring a greener feel to the shopping centre on First St in Masterton.

However, there has been opposition from businesses concerned that reducing the parking in First St would be an inconvenience to their customers.

Representatives from the businesses that operate out of the First St commercial block said that although they were aware of the concepts the plan discussed, they were unaware that a green space would replace half of their carpark until formal plans were given to them.

Basil's Fish and Chips owners Eric and Amy Wu said the carpark was full in the mornings and at lunchtime and they were worried what replacing the carpark with a green space would do to their business.

"We do think it's a good idea for First St to be better but customers don't want to walk too far from where they find a park," Mr Wu said. "It would destroy business."

Janet King from Kingsmeade Artisan Cheese said she appreciated the effort that had been put into the Lansdowne Village Plan but said a draft of the plan, which included replacing the parking, should have been shown to the business owners in the consultation process before a formal one was submitted to the council.

Mrs King was the business owner who submitted signed petitions and documentation to the council in order to have the original plan revised.

The petition to keep the carpark as it is had more than 200 signatures.

"At the moment, we're trying to find a compromise that does not jeopardise the business potential here.

"We appreciate the consultation that did take place however, I personally will be rethinking the viability of my business if the green space goes ahead.

"It's hard enough to run a business in the suburbs.

"We don't have a lot of foot traffic so we depend on easily accessible parking."

The original submission of the Lansdowne First Street Village Plan said that of the 461 people who attended the community consultation in March to discuss the plan, all were supportive of various aspects of the plan.

" ... 100 per cent of those who commented liked aspects of the plan and in particular the concept of green spaces," the submission said.

At the community consultation analysis, people were in favour of extra parking and managed traffic, and outdoor seating was "seen as an essential element".

Deputy Mayor Graham McClymont said the original plan would have gone ahead had a submission by the First St businesses not been made.

"We're now reviewing the submissions and most parts of the plan like underground power everyone seems to be happy with.

"It's just a matter of resizing the green space to accommodate to the businesses there."