Dire warning for Masterton 'heart'

DESERTED: Queen St retail is at a "tipping point" in its health, says an Annual Plan submitter.

The traditional heart of Masterton's shopping precinct could wither and die unless something is done to save it, is the claim of a Mauriceville farmer.

William Taylor lodged a submission with Masterton District Council yesterday through his spokesman John Hart which in part blamed the arrival of "big barn" businesses for turning Queen St on its head.

Mr Hart said Queen St was at a "tipping point" stripped of its vitality as a retail precinct as shoppers were being encouraged to car hop from one big barn to another.

Many shop frontages in Queen Street were no longer occupied by traditional retailers particularly at the north end which was suffering from the "drift south".

Mr Hart said "pockets of vitality" existed at the southern end of Queen St in the vicinity of the Regent Theatre and cafes but the central business district generally was short on meeting places.

He said shoppers who could meet and socialise in the CBD were much more likely to remain in town, and shop, for longer periods.

"Creating a place where people will want to come and meet up with others would be a starting point in turning round the fortunes of Queen St."

This could involve making a section of the main street accessible only to pedestrians, along the lines of Cuba St in Wellington.

Mr Hart said he and Mr Taylor were not saying the district council should necessarily pick up the cost of creating a public meeting place as the district was "blessed" having several funding bodies.

"But perhaps the council could shepherd it through," he said.

In his written submission Mr Taylor said a town with no heart "is a dead one".

His vision was to see the creation of a mall, or plaza at the town's north end, landscaped and furnished in a similar way to Wellington's Cuba St mall.

The point of difference would be its "agricultural heritage and all-things-local model."

Enhancing the mall could be a market selling local produce, artisan crafts and featuring local entertainers along with displays such as cooking displays.

Mr Taylor believes that along with the withering of Queen St business there is also a disconnection between town and country.

This could be overcome by an expanded street market and by encouraging the return of such businesses as traditional "butchers, greengrocers and fruiterers."

Mr Taylor said an example of efforts to revitalise shopping centres was in Porirua where the city council has hired consultants at a cost of $30,000.