Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 21 March 2018
e v i t i s Po
The track to prestige Page 20
ageing expo
Page 17-20
Relay for Life Page 27 & 29
No freedom for flags Emily Beaumont Reporter
emily@waimeaweekly.co.nz
For years, Richmond retailers have flown flags outside their premises as a way to attract customers to their business. Policy surrounded the flags with a rule in place stipulating the flag must not hamper the use of the footpath. However, for years this was ungoverned and it’s now the Tasman District Council’s decision to impose fines on those not complying that has been met with outrage and disbelief at the audacity of the timing. Already suffering from the Queen Street upgrade that has businesses reporting lower than usual cash flow, business owners say they need to use any means possible to let customers know they’re open for trade. “The council’s approach to this will make the street look plain and boring. There’s no diversity to it. Especially at the moment, we need people to be able to see we’re here and we’re open,” says Lea Lock, owner of Captivation. Chris Choat, TDC community relations manager, says the issue is not with the flags themselves but how they’re being used. “We completely understand it’s a tough time for retailers but we need to maintain accessibility for everyone on the footpath. There’s a balance we need to find,” says Chris. With the footpath on sections of Queen Street restricted due to the upgrade, Chris says the issue of flags is being accentuated at present. “It’s about providing an opportunity for
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Richmond barbershop’s Adrian Bradley wants the Tasman District Council to cut the retailers some slack and allow flags to fly free. Photo: Emily Beaumont.
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