Bay of Plenty council admits error after car parks vanish

The redevelopment of Te Puke town centre has changed the two laning of Jellicoe Street, as pictured above, into a single lane. It has also removed 13 car parks from the main road. Photo/file

Contractors have been blamed for mistakenly removing 13 car parks from Te Puke's main street.

The parking spaces will be reinstated on Jellicoe St from next week after the Western Bay of Plenty District Council announced the error today.

In a written statement, the council said there was a mistake made between the original plan prepared by town centre upgrade architects, Boffa Miskell, and the physical work done by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's roading contractor WestLink.

Emily Schwartfeger from the Te Puke Business Strategies Group said the re-investigation of the issue vindicated the groups' stance that had consistently argued there were more than eight parks lost in the new main street layout.

Infrastructure services group manager Gary Allis said the mistake was highlighted to the council in a letter by the Te Puke Business Strategies Group and verified by council staff and Boffa Miskell.

"The mistake stemmed from the contractor not following the parking plan correctly, marking some parks wider in isolation of the others, which reduced the number spaces in the main street.

"We'd like to thank the group for highlighting this error. We acknowledge that in implementing the design something has been lost in translation and we're working quickly to fix this."

Allis said the work would be completed overnight, pending weather, to avoid any disruption to motorist and shoppers.

Allis said the cost of the work would be carried by WestLink and there will be no cost on ratepayers. The work was being done under urgency to help cater for Christmas shoppers.