Canterbury Charity Hospital considers legal action over 'inferior' cycleway design
From reporter Tina Law:
The Canterbury Charity Hospital is considering launching a judicial review against the city council over its decision to push ahead with an “unsafe and inferior” cycleway.
The Christchurch City Council last week approved the final design for the $22.6 million, 4.5-kilometre Wheels to Wings cycleway on Harewood Rd, following 19 months of consultation and more than 70 design changes.
The cycleway passes the hospital’s front gate and its bosses first raised concerns about its design early last year.
The charity hospital wants the council to go ahead with an alternative community-led design, which was considered by the council but eventually dismissed because it had “safety concerns that could not be resolved”.
The council voted 11 to 6 in favour of pushing ahead with the staff-recommended design.
Hospital chairman Phil Bagshaw and executive officer Carl Shaw said in a statement, they were dismayed at the council’s decision to accept an “inferior version” of the cycleway.
They said the hospital trust had grave concerns for the safety of its patients and staff and believed the community had been ignored.
A statement issued by the trust’s lawyer, Jamie Robinson of Duncan Cotterill, said the hospital believed the community option was safer and less costly than what the councillors approved.
She said the fact the community proposal was not given fuller consideration by the council had resulted in the hospital seeking legal advice on its options to judicially review the decision.
“The Canterbury Charity Hospital is frustrated by the decision of the councillors, and specifically that the alternative option strongly supported by the community was not given more consideration.”
Bagshaw and Shaw would not comment on how the hospital would pay for legal action or when a firm decision would be made.
They directed all inquiries to Robinson, who did not answer those questions.
City council chief executive Dawn Baxendale is on the charity hospital trust board, which presumably would make the final decision over legal action.
Bagshaw and Shaw said in a statement the council did not carry out an independent safety audit on the community design, which was created by three highly experienced engineers with more than 100 years of experience between them.
Council head of transport Lynette Ellis said staff had worked with the hospital throughout the development of the cycleway, most recently in the last two months.
She said staff were working to clarify their concerns and were confident that those could be mostly resolved through a design solution.
At last week’s council meeting, during some intense questioning from councillors, Ellis went to great pains to explain staff had seriously considered the alternative design but they could not make it work no matter how hard they tried.
Ellis said road safety audits did not provide a comparison between different options, so it went with an independent design review instead.
The review was undertaken by Chartered Professional Engineers, who were recognised in the field of road safety and design for active modes of transport, she said.
The council-approved design would see Harewood Rd reduced from four vehicle lanes to two lanes to make way for one-way cycle lanes on both sides of the road between Nunweek Boulevard and Greers Rd.
At Nunweek Park the cycleway will become two-way on the south side of Harewood Rd towards Russley Rd.
From Greers Rd towards the railway line in Papanui, the cycleway will be two-way on the north side apart from a small section outside Mitre 10 where it will become one-way on both sides of the road.
The community plan (pictured) involved a two-way cycleway on the south side of the Harewood Rd median strip.
Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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59.8% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.8% No, individuals should take responsibility
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14.4% ... It is complicated
Please Share This Story From Otautahi Newsroom Far and Wide To Help These Men
Otautahi Newsroom
Concerns are being raised about the safety, care standards, and duty of care at a Comcare-supported residential flat in Bishopdale, Christchurch, where vulnerable older men with significant mental health conditions are living.
An advocate speaking on behalf of four residents , says the men are experiencing ongoing intimidation, alleged abuse, and serious safety risks within the flat. The residents are described as having limited capacity to advocate for themselves and have asked for help to bring the situation to public attention.
The flat houses five male residents, all aged over 60 and all considered vulnerable adults with psychiatric illnesses. It is alleged that one resident, I (64), has displayed escalating aggressive and intimidating behaviour over a period of approximately five years. According to reports from residents and those advocating for them, this behaviour has included verbal threats, alleged physical incidents, repeated boundary violations, and conduct that has left others living in fear.
Reported incidents include police attendance following an alleged knife-related event and theft of personal property, an incident in which one resident was allegedly restrained in his bed, repeated verbal intimidation, and unauthorised entry into other residents’ bedrooms. There are also claims that staff members have been assaulted or felt unsafe attending the property, with some reportedly conducting visits from outside the flat due to safety concerns.
Advocates say the ongoing situation has had a severe impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of the affected residents. All four men report feeling unsafe in their own home, with some considering leaving the property despite believing they should not be forced out of housing they were promised would be safe and stable.
One resident, D, who has both mental health needs and a heart condition, is said to have taken on an informal role trying to protect others. Advocates argue this is inappropriate and unsafe, stating that residents should not be expected to manage high-risk situations without professional support. They also claim that Comcare has breached contractual commitments to provide safe, peaceful, and stable housing.
Further concerns have been raised about the suitability of the property itself. The Bishopdale house was originally a four-bedroom home with one bathroom but was altered to accommodate a fifth resident by converting a sunroom into a bedroom. Critics argue that having one toilet for five men over the age of 63 is inadequate and compromises dignity, health, and wellbeing.
There are also claims from a family member of a former resident that care provided to her terminally ill brother at the property was insufficient, adding to broader concerns about oversight and duty of care.
Despite multiple complaints reportedly being lodged with agencies, advocates say they have seen no meaningful action. They are now calling for urgent intervention, including:
• Immediate rehousing of resident I into a 24-hour staffed care facility, dementia care, or appropriate hospital setting
• An urgent, independent investigation into Comcare’s management of the Bishopdale property
• Assessment of whether elder abuse or neglect is occurring
• A full review of duty of care, risk management, and safeguarding practices
• Immediate measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the remaining residents
Advocates warn that without urgent action, there is a serious risk of harm. They say the men deserve to live without fear and with appropriate care that protects their dignity, mental health, and quality of life.
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
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