Proposed walkway linking High Street with Manoy/Talbot streets

May 28th, 2012
By Ian Miller

I was just reading the article on Motueka Online that the plan to link Manoy and Talbot Street has been shelved by the Tasman Regional Land Transport Programme. This annoys me and is another example of Motueka getting the back tit when it comes to TDC roading projects. However this is not the reason I am writing.

This news has made me think that some planning needs to be done now for the when this Talbot/Manoy Street link is eventually made. Even if a road cannot be completed between the two streets for some time, at least a pedestrian and cycle way should be built now. Unfortunately a new problem has just come to light.

As I understand the land ownership situation behind the west side of High Street, a lane exists owned by the TDC the runs east-west between the south side of the Gothic Restaurant and the Elevation cafe next door. It has long been my thought that this lane should be extended right through to Talbot Street to allow for pedestrian access from that area into High Street.

Here is a map of a proposed walkway from High Street to Manoy and Talbot Streets:

The suggested new walkway will open up pedestrian and cycle access between High Street and the Sports Park where Manoy and Talbot Street will eventually join.

Parklands School has fenced off its playing fields, although I understand people can still walk through the school sports fields when they are not in use. From a security point of view I do not think this is good, nor is it entirely suitable for pedestrians.

It is unsuitable also for cyclists, electric mobility scooters, dog walkers and people coming and going from the Sports Park. Using the school playing fields as an informal access way to High Street is a privilege that could be withdrawn at anytime a problem arises.

New Childcare Centre Will Block Pedestrian Access

An issue relating to this is the planned building of the new child care centre in the south-west corner of the Parklands School sports fields. This proposed building makes it now even more important to get walking access between High Street and Talbot/Manoy Street established, because once this new child care centre is built pedestrian access will be blocked forever.

Proposed New Child Care Center Upsets Elderly Neighbour

The proposed new child care building will be right outside the sun room of an elderly woman and will block her view, sun and largely destroy her enjoyment of living there. She will end up looking out directly at the south wall of a large building built very close to her home and it will cast shadow over her property as it is exactly to the north of her boundary. On top of this loss of outlook, and the quiet enjoyment of her location, she fears that her property will be devalued considerably.

It should be possible to relocate the new building within the site so that the impact on this neighbour's property is minimised. It would appear that the plan has not been thought out so as to consider the impact the new building will have on this unfortunate neighbour. It is arrogant of designers to just go ahead and blithely ignore neighbours enjoyment of life and the value of their property when planning new projects.

For these reasons I think the planning application for the early child care centre should be denied until more research has been done on its design, location and future pedestrian access.

Comment by Malcolm Garrett:
[Posted 30 July 2012]

Regarding the proposal to provide a walking track come cycle way through to High Street from the Talbot Manoy Street grassed area, I find myself in agreement. I was unaware of any proposals to build a preschool in Parklands grounds and can sympathise with the plight of any owners of property affected by that.

I frequently use the heavily marked track, often very muddy in winter, to make the link to the library, and SeniorNet as I live in Manoy street. We, and my neighbours, are not relishing the idea of linking the two streets for vehicle traffic as it would turn our quiet backstreet into a raceway, although we do enjoy the Saturday rugby crowds who pass our gate each week in the season.

A properly made sealed walking track on the Eastern side would link us well, and if the track could extended in the way suggested, it would be better than sneaking across the school playing fields to come out through the car park by Whitwells and so onto High street.

There is a gate from the Family Service Centre yard by the preschool enclosure which I found by accident! I find that most subdivisions of Motueka are elongated N S and that a lot of manoeuvring is required to cross to the next row of streets.

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