Opponents of Christchurch's Northern Corridor vow to fight on
A decades-long battle against a motorway in their backyard has been lost, but residents of an inner-Christchurch suburb say they will not give up the fight to reduce its impact.
The city’s long-awaited $290 million Northern Corridor motorway will partially open on Monday, to help bed in the chip seal surface before all four lanes open in mid-December.
The corridor extends the Christchurch Northern Motorway through to QEII Drive and Cranford St, and is designed to make travel times in and out of the city shorter.
On Thursday, the Christchurch City Council will vote on a new lane on Cranford St, between Innes Rd and Berwick St, and what it will be used for.
A report from a traffic engineer initially recommended a clearway, to help deal with traffic coming off the Northern Corridor, but this was met with fierce pushback from locals.
Councillors are now looking into a three-month trial of a bus lane.
Members of the St Albans Residents Association will be at the meeting, armed with banners and placards.
Some locals have opposed the Northern Corridor since its inception, with plans to run a motorway through the area into the heart of Christchurch in the pipeline since the 1960s.
What are your thoughts on the new Northern Corridor?
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CORSET, COSTER, SECTOR, ESCORT, COURTS
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz