A large meeting of Raglanders has decided to close down the Raglan Town Square placemaking project. Well over 100 people crammed into the Town Hall supper room on Thursday night (1st May) to be briefed on the project. Raglan Ward Councillor Clint Baddeley opened the meeting introducing the chair of the meeting, Councillor Wally Hayes, head of Waikato District Council’s Infrastructure Committee. Mr Hayes outlined the agenda. First RCB Chair Linda Cole gave her view, then WDC GM Tony Whittaker gave a brief history of the project followed by roading consultant Alasdair Gray outlining design options. Then Mr Hayes asked for questions from the floor and after that opened the discussion up for people to give their views. He then sought the meetings view on what to do next.
Questions ranged from where did the name ‘Town Square’ come from to what other placemaking projects were considered? Other questions indicated that people at the meeting appeared to struggle with idea that placemaking is by the community and for the community. Many seemed to think it was being imposed on Raglan by WDC. In the views section a diverse range of views was given on lack of iwi consultation, destroying Raglan’s history, and where the placemaking should be done. Various topics unrelated to placemaking were also raised including footpaths, public toilets and drains.
Wally Hayes called for a vote on whether the Town Square project should be closed down and most people appeared to want it stopped. Mr Hayes confirmed it would be stopped. There was then some input by the placemaking team and the meeting appeared to warm to an idea proposed by Lisa Thompson that the team go ahead with some seating at two locations on the median strip. Sheryl Hart spoke in support of a placemaking project down by the jetty. Dave Currie spoke and said, “My input is over on placemaking. I do wish others well if they decide to work on other projects.”