Traffic menace in quiet street

Colvin Algie (left), Grace Terry, Roger Terry, Di Hansen, Di Wilding, Lenore Webber and Shane East are worried about traffic effects on Goddard Lane generated by the growing retirement village. Photo / Duncan Brown

A group of Havelock North residents spent Saturday morning protesting with painted placards outside a retirement village.

The "peaceful demonstration" was against the increasing number of cars using the Mary Doyle Lifecare Complex's back entrance on Goddard Lane.

"We decided now is the time to let people know we've had enough," said organiser and resident Grace Terry.

When Mrs Terry and her husband Roger moved to Goddard Lane five years ago, they were told the number of traffic movements in and out of the entry would be 30 per day.

More recent traffic counts found this number to be 143 per day.

"People have had enough," Mrs Terry said.

Residents worried the increase in traffic posed a risk to the 34 children living on the cul de sac, with cars regularly speeding down the narrow lane.

The back entrance was meant to be used by residents at the end of the property, far from the main entrance on Karanema Drive.

But Mrs Terry claimed the entrance was also being used by visitors and staff.

Aside from the impact on Goddard Lane residents, they felt it also posed a security threat to residents of the retirement complex. "As an ex-nurse, I know that the residents are not getting proper security," Mrs Terry said.

"Security is the main reason people move into retirement homes."

Mrs Terry said the back entrance gate was rarely shut and did not have the security measures of the front entrance.

Coincidentally, the gate was locked during the protest.

Residents said the retirement village had recently purchased the orchard at the end of Goddard Lane, and they worried the new houses built there would exacerbate the problem.