The Place Making workshop in Raglan’s town hall on Saturday 26th Feb worked on a proposal for a Town Square to be created at the intersections of Bow St and Wainui Rd. The workshop was led by Place Making expert David Engwicht. twenty people took part in the workshop.
John Lawson said that workshop was presented with two alternatives:
- A scheme restricting the width of Bow St in front of the Harbour View Hotel
- An option also closing the central reservation at the junction with Wainui Rd.
John reported that former Community Board chair, Peter Storey, objected strongly to the road closure, saying he found it hard to use the roundabout from Bankart St to Upper Bow St. The rest of the group supported the closure. In subsequent comments Peter has said that if it goes ahead, it would be best to close the intersection and allow traffic to turn left into Bow St, north to Wallis St, then allow a U turn, then provide a clear run back south along Bow St and past the Harbour View and the blocked off intersection.
Tony Whittaker, GM at the Waikato Council said, “This is a trial. If it doesn’t work it can be changed. The great thing is the consultation can be done here with the community actually living in the change rather then seeing it on a concept plan and having to visualise what it will be like. The roading team at council still need to sign the concept off from an engineering perspective”.
John Lawson said, “The process needs to involve many more people, both to make it democratic (when lone voices will be less influential) and to get things done. To help with this https://www.facebook.com/raglantownsquare?ref=br_tf has been set up.”
The Facebook page is asking for people to help with the following list. People are starting to say they will help.
- Artists – design pattern for painted roadway
- Artists – design bridge
- Painting of roadway
- Focal area centre of the road (with sub groups)
- Grass path and landscaping
- Boat planters
- Bridge
- Pots and seating
- Linger nodes – e.g.
- Painted piano
- Chess
- Swing ball
- Your idea
- Move rocks and regroup
- Decks for centre median (under palms)
- Surfboard signs (to replace existing signs)
Linda Cole Chair of the Raglan Community Board said she would have liked to see a short report circulated after the workshop. She added that the Board will discuss the proposal at its March meeting.