31 October 2010 Media Release

Council inaction causing local businesses to face closure

Council inaction and confusion is driving local businesses to the brink of closure, says Wigram MP Jim Anderton.

A crunch meeting, chaired by Jim Anderton, was held on Thursday October 28th, between Sydenham and Beckenham business owners, senior council staff and representatives from the insurance industry, government agencies and the commercial sector.

The meeting agreed the situation had gone on for too long and an immediate resolution was required.

Insurance companies also agreed to treat individual cases on merit and on a ‘goodwill’ basis to speed up claims.

The Christchurch City Council has effectively been put on notice to clear up the mess and put an end to the misery of local traders before many of them go out of business.

“Almost two months after the earthquake parts of Sydenham and Beckenham still look like a war-zone.

“Bricks, rubble and debris are piled high and have remained untouched for over eight weeks. The addition of cordons and traffic diversions are making pedestrian access a logistical nightmare for local businesses and retail shops in particular are really suffering.

“The Council cleared up this kind of mess in the city centre weeks ago, so why has this iconic ‘character’ suburb of Christchurch been neglected?

“As a result of the meeting, I expect to see the clean-up and demolition finally get underway and for Colombo Street to be opened up to two-way traffic and parking again, as soon as possible.

“Too much time has been wasted since the earthquake, with conflicting advice, lack of communication and confusion over structural engineering reports, consent applications for repairs or demolition as well as new policy announcements on doubling the earthquake code requirement, all of which have delayed decisions on repairs and/or demolition.

“An urgent resolution to these matters is now critical, not only for the future but also for the very survival of a large amount of important businesses in Sydenham and Beckenham”, says Jim Anderton.

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