Frustrated Rangiora residents want footpath, street lights, drainage for their street

Residents in a quiet Rangiora lane are fed up with a lack of action to address safety concerns in their street.

A petition was presented to the Waimakariri District Council last year calling for a footpath, street lighting and improvements to stormwater drainage in Highfield Lane.

While the council has completed some work to improve drainage, resident Sandra Page said residents ‘‘have had enough’’.

‘‘It’s been going on for nearly 20 years and they’ve had enough.

‘‘We are forgotten after so many years, with other streets in Rangiora having beautiful lights and footpaths.

‘‘We want action now.’’

Residents felt unsafe due to the lack of a footpath and no street lighting, while the opening of a therapeutic massage business in the lane has significantly increased traffic.

The drains filled up when it rained during winter, she said.

A Waimakariri District Council spokesperson said Highfield Lane is like other streets constructed in the early 1980s, without a kerb and channel or a footpath.

‘‘This is not unusual for low volume roads from this era.

‘‘Residents are aware of this when they move into the area, and this visual amenity is part of the appeal of certain streets.’’

Council staff met residents last year to discuss traffic volumes, drainage, lighting and other concerns.

Since then staff have completed drain clearing works to ensure driveway culverts were clear and the swale was re-graded to help improve the flow.

Planning is under way for a new footpath and the street has been added to the council’s street light programme.

‘‘We do have many streets where the residents would like additional lighting, which currently have none, and this street will be considered alongside other areas,’’ the spokesperson said.

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.