Put the thinking caps on

IDEAS WANTED: South Wairarapa District Council is asking for free-ranging concepts - using feedback on this concept plan as a discussion point - before starting any formal design work. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wide-ranging creative ideas needed for town centre

Featherston people are being invited to have their say on the town square development.

South Wairarapa District Council swapped its land, where the new supermarket complex is being built, with Trust House for a section of land next to the skate park.

Trust House has also agreed to donate the bottle store building, once it is no longer needed, for the council to use as a potential Menz Shed.

Consultation forms are being sent out to residents this week and say the land's size and location opens up many opportunities such as community use, commercial development or even for developing a reserve.

"The combination of vacant land and a donated building is a very fortunate situation so we need to come up with a plan for improving the area that complements the Featherston we know and love."

A concept plan shows the land, where Chungs Supermarket and the old post office used to be, could be used for a paved town square area, the Menz Shed and another development, for example a commercial space to be leased or a grassy space.

Councillors Colin Olds and David Montgomerie are encouraging residents to think beyond the piece of swapped land.

"Featherston is full of creative minds, and we want them to think outside the square," said Mr Olds.

He said they had both talked to several residents who had a range of ideas for the site and other sections of council-owned land.

Mr Montgomerie said they were disappointed that the consultation documents focused only on one piece of land.

"There are number of sites that could be suitable for the idea suggested."

Both councillors want feedback from residents to be as wide-ranging as possible and say they would hate to see the public's ideas limited by the plans shown in the documents.

"The only document that matters is the feedback form," said Mr Montgomerie.

A recent council survey reported 60 per cent of Featherston residents said that they were not very satisfied with the image of their town centre.

The most common reasons for dissatisfaction were that the town looked rundown and uninviting; there are old, derelict and empty buildings; the town needs to attract new businesses; and there needs to be more for young people to do.

Submissions to the council close on Wednesday, April 9.