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Tuesday 1 July 2014
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Free car parking It’s now up to locals to support our city. That’s the message from Nelson City Council after agreeing to make car parking free for a three month trial. Nelson city retailers packed the public gallery in the council chambers last Thursday, sending a clear message to councillors that they want a level playing field with Richmond retailers, who have enjoyed free car parking for years. Retailers said while the move wouldn’t be a “silver bullet”, it would go a long way to help them bring back shoppers. Councillors agreed and decided to make car parking free in the city from today until September 30, but mayor Rachel
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Nelson mayor Rachel Reese prepares to put a sticker on a parking meter, announcing free parking in Nelson city. Photo: Andrew Board.
Reese says she now expects to see the city “bustling”. “It’s now up to local people to support their local shops. We’ve been hearing for some time that the lack of free parking is what keeps people away, so with that barrier removed we’ll look forward to seeing Nelson streets bustling.” Retailers are ecstatic about the move and say it will help them get their customers coming back into the city, instead of doing their shopping in Richmond.
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Southern Link back on the table
There’s been a mainly positive reaction to the Prime Minister’s shock announcement to investigate building the long-talkedabout Southern Link. John Key announced on Sunday that the investigation into building what would be a new state highway, would be funded by the government, prompting support from his cabinet minister and local MP Nick Smith, Nelson AA and residents online.
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The road, dubbed the southern link, would provide a third route to the city from the Tasman district, where most of the region’s exports are grown or produced. It would mean that trucks carrying that produce could drive to Port Nelson without having to drive along the scenic Rocks Rd, leaving it clear for development. But it would also mean putting a major road through the community of Victory
and along the popular Railway Reserve cycle trail. Nelson MP Nick Smith and Nelson mayor Rachel Reese have both said they support the link being built. “This highway route along the old railway line has been earmarked for fifty years and needs advancing,” says Nick. “The existing Rocks and Waimea Roads do not have the capacity to cope with the region’s population and ex-
port growth.” He says he’s determined to get the road built and that the effects on Victory are “minimised”. Reaction to the news on the Nelson Weekly Facebook page was mixed, but more were in favour than opposed. “Over a lot of dead bodies, I suspect,” wrote Jacqui Irwin, while Dave Trigg wrote: “Great news, get it done, the sooner the better.”
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