The proposed changes to lower Victoria Ave, including the loss of some car parks, are only a trial, writes Renate Schneider. Photo / Bevan Conley
Now here we go again. Car parks. Do not all cities in the world try to make their cities lively and pedestrian friendly, bike friendly, shop friendly, eat friendly? Yes they do.
But we in Whanganui think that putting some small tables on the common footpath is enough to feel
good. While we are having a coffee there, we are looking at a car. We will listen to the engines and worry that our children won't run into traffic or that the pram is not obstructing that footpath even more.
Whanganui has plenty of car parks. A bit of walking does not hurt. Disabled car spaces will stay to make it easy. I am sure that the turnover in the shops of the lower Victoria Ave will improve as they anecdotally have in Drews Ave. We claim to be an art city, we have such a beautiful inner city so let's enjoy that.
It is a trial, lots of work and talk has gone into it, please do not spoil it. To object at the 12th hour is not fair either. Things do change and will always change, because that is life.
RENATE SCHNEIDER
Whanganui