Costs of iWay row spiral

Resolving parking problems in Gascoigne St has cost the Hastings District Council more than the original price to introduce the cycle lane that started complaints from residents over a year ago.

The council yesterday resolved the latest complaint by increasing the parking limit outside the Gascoigne St Medical Centre from 30 minutes to 60 minutes, to allow more time for people to visit the centre.

A survey had requested the council install inset parking bays.

But a survey of parking in the area suggested time limits be increased on the current parks instead, an idea approved by all councillors except Simon Nixon.

Councillor Nixon said he was originally going to propose all of the cycle lanes, which form part of the iWay network, be "ripped out" and the street returned to its original state.

Instead, he wanted to know how much the survey had cost the council and whether it was greater than the initial price to upgrade the street for iWay.

Traffic engineer Aaron Campion said the survey work "was not too far from $10,000", which included council staff time investigating the options, considering complaints from residents and making recommendations to the council.

"The costs are quite expensive for small scale issues," he said.

Councillor Nixon said it was "astonishing" the investigation had cost more "than what it was for us to do this work in the first place".

"Add to that the $10,000 we spent to rip out some chicanes last year when residents complained about those.

"We could have fixed this problem by not putting in the cycle lanes in the first place."

The council's chief executive, Ross McLeod, said the cost was brought by a petitioner, which required the council to follow up issues and complaints.

"The iWay is working well down that street and we have managed to come up with a solution which everyone is happy with," Mr McLeod said.

Councillors Nixon and Wayne Bradshaw said they would be interested to see a "cycle count" of Gascoigne St to show how many people were using the new cycle lane.

They also supported a move for better public consultation with people before future cycle lanes were installed into a street.

"There was quite a lot of concern on Te Mata Rd when the iWay cycle lane went in there, and there was a lot of extra work that went into getting a better outcome, saving money and angst between council and residents," Councillor Bradshaw said.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the iWay network was about moving the city forward in terms of walking and cycling initiatives.

"That means we are going to have to make some hard calls and that is what is happening here, although it has taken some time.

"Six weeks ago we got a question from a Clive resident, who raised an issue about the iWay where it was next to their property.

"Now they've said to me it's fantastic and opened the whole place up."

My way or the iWay: Issues inspired by iWay on Gascoigne St, Hastings:

• Cycle lanes introduced but off-street parking reduced.
• New traffic islands, part of iWay remodel, proved unpopular and were removed.
• New timed parking signs also proved unpopular and were mysteriously cut down.
• Final issue solved by increasing timed parking outside a medical centre.