What To Do With Upper Hutt's CBD
The CBD mainly in Main Street is a mess and a disgrace to a town that is called a city.
But not all is lost.
For years I have been saying make the CBD a mix of retail and apartmental. In other words compact the shopping and bring people right into the precinct by accommodating them. Make it living instead of lifeless.
It seems this might yet happen.
The owners of the mall had plans to increase the size of the mall considerably. Thank goodness they have not as now the current mall is virtually filled at long last and any increase in size will remove what little is left of the outside and the CBD would become disfunctional.
I have pitched for a Jackson Street (Petone)- like operation for Main Street with the council chipping in to help (rates holidays) and encourage in improvements and converting buildings to accommodate apartments and soliciting free paint for building exterior upgrade and "group" benefits for renovations.
Tracy Bull is quoted in The Leader as saying she loves the CBD the way it is. Whew. I wouldn't be supporting her opinion.
Councillor, Paul Lambert didn't see the CBD being required much above "ordinary" when I last spoke to him about it but I think that included in the mix should be boutique type of shops that along with the other major retail players will help to attract the public from the southern Wairarapa to come and shop in Upper Hutt instead of travelling further south to Lower Hutt or further north to Masterton.
Poll: Should we ditch daylight saving? 🕰️
First introduced in New Zealand in 1927 with the passing of the Summer Time Act, it's what we know as 'Daylight Saving' and this year it ends on the first Sunday in April.
While we do get to sleep in this time around, some people would like to scrap the clock tinkering for good.
And why? Some evidence suggests the time changes are bad for our health as they mess with sleep patterns leading to short-term fatigue and affecting mood. Meanwhile the hour change is frustrating for farmers and a nightmare for getting the littlies to sleep. But what's your take?
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41.1% Yes - get rid of the clock changes
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57.2% No, I enjoy it
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1.8% Other - I'll share below
TRUMP AND TRENTHAM
Years ago when Neighbourly use to be a social media discussion outlet, I wrote a few items concerning Trump and got a stopper response from some people along the lines of what has Trump got to do with Trentham, Hutt Valley, Wellington or New Zealand.
Well let's forget about past years since 2015 and concentrate on this year.
Tariffs - people in Trentham and nearby Martinborough who are connected with the wine industry got especially annoyed about having to find new markets in the world and avoid the USA with Trump having unreasonably impose higher tariffs on NZ exports. Of course an about turn cannot be done instantly and some wine exporters here took a tumble.
War - the Trump war with Iran is affecting locals enormously already. Almost everything is expected to go up in price. Our military might yet be involved and just maybe activity at the Trentham Military Camp is on the increase.
Fuel - The NZ Govt is setting itself up to keep the price of petrol and diesel down to a level below unaffordable for the average bloke and blokess. But options remain open for carless days and working from home where possible working weeks. Despite the detractors like retailers and hospitality people in Wellington, working from home will save a huge amount of vehicle fuel. Our public transport services could not cope with severe carless days.
Online Purchases and Freight - big increases in cost of goods from overseas and the cost of air and sea freight charges.
Emigration - NZ and the Wellington region are prime targets for foreigners wanting to come and live here as we are the safest country of size in the world and the world of Trump and his USA are making the world much more at risk and uncertain. Look out for a new wave of housing demand here.
Lions' Mini Market
On Saturday (28th) at the King Lion Hall, 12 King Street Upper Hutt 8-11am. Outdoor and Indoor Plants; Crafts and Materials; Quality Clothing; Books, Toys & Jigsaws; Household Things and More. Get there early for good parking. Looking forward to seeing you there.
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