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Pedestrians in Christchurch have to side-step a large utility cabinet which has popped up in the middle of a busy footpath.
Apartment developers in Stanmore Rd have widened the busy thoroughfare between Cashel and Hereford Sts, leaving a telecommunications utility cabinet blocking the path.
Christchurch City Council claims it had only received one complaint so far.
It insists the location of the Chorus-owned telecommunications utility cabinet hasn't changed, saying the recent construction of apartments has seen the fenceline pushed back, making the footpath slightly wider.
The developer has then rebuilt the footpath around the utility cabinet.
One puzzled and annoyed resident said it has left very limited space either side of the box and reckons it's nuts.
Other baffled locals are raising concerns about people with mobility issues who struggle to get past the wide obstacle.
The council said it was now trying to contact the developer to ask if they can "agree to add additional footpath material, either side of the manhole and cabinet, to give more footpath width to the sides and around the cabinet".
No date for any improvements had been set.
- By Geoff Sloan
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air