Grey Power upset traffic meeting out of bounds

July 23rd, 2012

Grey Power members are "very upset" that a meeting on Wednesday to discuss traffic and pedestrian issues in Motueka will not now be open to the public.

Jim Butler, secretary of Grey Power Motueka, has sent an open letter to the Tasman District Council mayor Richard Kempthorne asking urgently for an explanation. Grey Power had intended to use the meeting to press their request to New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a pedestrian crossing between New World and The Warehouse.

Following is the letter:

"Grey Power Motueka committee members are very upset to learn that virtually at the last minute, the Chairman of TDC's Engineering Services Committee, Trevor Norriss has told the Chairman of the Motueka Community Board, David Ogilvie, that the meeting between Community Board members and the NZTA is not to be a public meeting.

"At the Community Board meeting on 10th July, the Chairman advised that while there was to be no public forum at the meeting on the 25th at which Motueka traffic issues are to be discussed, members of the public could attend. As a consequence we advised our members. Because of the short time frame, it will now be very difficult to advise them all otherwise.

"Grey Power's main concern is construction of the long awaited pedestrian crossing over the Motueka High St between the New World Supermarket and the Warehouse.

"In our letter to you of 17th May we asked that this letter be considered as a submission to the meeting with the NZTA on 30th May. This meeting was cancelled and rescheduled to 25th July. In the agenda for the 30th May meeting which we hold, the pedestrian crossing was to be the third item on the agenda. We presume it will be in the same position at the 25th July meeting.

"As Grey Power Motueka made a submission for this required pedestrian crossing, we believe we have a democratic right to be able to listen to the outcome. As a consequence, can we please be advised of the reason why the Chairman of the Engineering Services, Trevor Norriss, has the right to prevent us from attending this meeting?

"For we understand this meeting is between the Motueka Community Board and NZTA to discuss traffic issues in Motueka. Can you please advise us urgently why Grey Power members cannot attend this meeting."

Update open letter by Jim Butler, following a response from the mayor's secretary:
[Posted 26 July 2012]

"Thank you very much for your e-mail. You can tell the Mayor that it is all sorted. Briefly it seems David Ogilvie should not have announced at the Community Board meeting on the 10th that the public would be allowed to attend the liaison meeting on Motueka Traffic Issues with NZTA on the 25th. (One can only wonder why not? Surely a reporter for a local newspaper should have been allowed to be present as it was local issues that were being discussed).

"Trevor Norriss pointed out this error to David on the 23rd. But by then I had already advised several Grey Power members that this meeting was open to the public. As a consequence I had to rapidly advise them otherwise. In case some did not receive the 2nd message, I hung around the meeting room at 1.30 in case any turned up. Only one did and he lived close by.

"Then I returned later when the meeting was breaking up and spoke to Mr Kargar of NZTA who told me that a pedestrian crossing over High St between New World and The Warehouse would be constructed. However there were some problems to sort out first, so not to hold my breath. But it will certainly not take another 10 years before it gets constructed.

"I also had the opportunity to invite Gary Clark to ride my mobility scooter around the Motueka footpaths, pointing out that if he can ride a bucking bronco, he will have no problems. Gary was delighted to accept my offer. Hope he doesn't shake my scooter to pieces first.

"So all in all, today has turned out quite well. Thanks again. Jim Butler."

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