Bins have been removed from 200 Christchurch parks but the rubbish remains
Removing hundreds of bins from across Christchurch has turned some parks into “eyesores” and led to calls for them to be returned.
The Christchurch City Council has taken away 840 bins from parks and is installing 81 “smart” bins instead, leaving 211 neighbourhood parks without a rubbish bin and others with fewer bins than before.
While the council says the transition has been “very smooth” and has only resulted in a few litter complaints, residents and councillors are reporting a different picture.
Residents have resorted to picking up litter themselves, but their patience is wearing thin. Some are blaming the council for taking the bins away in the first place, while others say people need to be responsible for their own rubbish and take it home. Continue reading here.
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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89.1% Yes, it's fair
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10.3% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.