Injunction hopes to keep cars on Courtenay Place
The battle over the future of Courtenay Place is heating up, with two new groups emerging to fight proposed changes to the central Wellington street. Former lawyer Barry Wilson is leading a group of business owners who plan to fight the proposed Golden Mile changes, which are part of the Lets Get Wellington Moving programme. In a separate move, former councillor Bryan Weyburne has relaunched Wellington First, his pro-car political party which contested the 2019 election, with a new brochure arguing cars should stay on the street. Wilson said he intended to file an injunction against Lets Get Wellington Moving and Wellington City Council to prevent the changes going ahead, claiming the feedback process had been insufficient. READ MORE: * Wellington business owners worried Golden Mile plans will be 'disastrous' for retailers * Plans to transform Wellington CBD questioned by city leaders * Bus users and pedestrians the big winners from Wellington's Golden Mile revamp plans He claimed the timeframes for public feedback were unreasonably short and constituted a breach of natural justice, and one of three options put to the public should have included the status quo. Two of the three options would remove private vehicles from the Golden Mile entirely, while the third would close some parts of the central city route to general traffic. Wilson said he had dozens of businesses supporting his group, but the view was not a consensus. Earlier this year, Sean Murrie, who owns The Malthouse bar on Courtenay Place, launched a petition calling on the council to go even further and pedestrianise the entire street, removing access to all vehicles, including buses. Murrie said the street had lost its charm. "It's a space that was once the jewel in Wellington's crown, but now it only caters to the late night revellers. We need to reclaim it for all citizens of the city." His petition had the support of Hospitality New Zealand. An official name for Wilsons group had not been decided, but was tentatively named Cars stay on Courtenay. The Wellington First brochure claimed removing private vehicles from the precinct would lead to the destruction of New Zealands most famous entertainment area, Courtenay Place. The protests come after several Lambton Quay retailers said the proposal to close off side streets would hurt their businesses. Delivery vehicles could still be allowed on the Golden Mile at certain times of the day if private vehicles were removed. But failing that, side streets would need to be used. Cranfields owner Nicola Cranfield, whose store is on Johnston St off Lambton Quay, said the street would likely be too narrow for many delivery trucks to turn around in. The removal of up to 200 car parks on and near the Golden Mile which comprises Courtenay Place, Manners St, part of Willis St, and Lambton Quay would also be a blow, they said. Public feedback on the proposals closes on July 26, with a preferred option to be confirmed in September. Lets Get Wellington Moving has been approached for comment.