Ashburton's Market Day to move after retailer complaints

RNZ News

4 days ago

The Ashburton Market Day has historically closed East Street from Havelock Street down to Moore Street, but the Ashburton District Council has now restricted road closures in that area to outside business hours.
Photo:
LDR / Ashburton Guardian
Market days are no longer welcome on a section of Ashburton's main street during business hours.
It means a popular annual market day in September has to move - but only just down road.
Retailers had argued the town's main street was no place for a market as the road closures hurt local shops.
The Ashburton District Council voted last week to ban events on the block of East Street, south of Havelock Street, if they required road closures.
The organiser of Ashburton's annual market day sees the decision as positive.
Spealing to LDR this week, Carol Johns said she was already looking to move the market day one block north on East Street, in front of Baring Square East.
"I was just waiting for the council to make a decision.
"I'm not worried, I'll move and the market day will still go ahead.
"Nothing changes, we just move down the road a wee bit.
"There are more positives than negatives."
The move means Johns will have to pay for a new traffic management plan, but only has to contact three businesses about a road closure, rather than 96.
Photo:
LDR / Ashburton Guardian
Baring Square East had a $2.45 million upgrade in 2023 to coincide with the construction of the $62.3m Te Whare Whakatere, Ashburton's library and civic centre.
That investment led to the majority of councillors voting to close the southern end of East Street off to market events during business hours, at a council meeting on 18 June.
The annual market day attracts thousands of people to Ashburton.
It is held on South Canterbury Anniversary Day, on the fourth Monday of September, which is not an Ashburton District public holiday.
When discussing the options last week, councillor Tony Todd said historically the local businesses were heavily involved in the market day, previously known as Boulevard Day, but times have changed.
"The event was fully supported by local retailers but over time that support has declined, and other operators have been involved," Todd said.
"The day still attracts a large number of people to the CBD that mainly walk the street and the vendor stalls have become a barrier to get into retailers stores.
"It's time for a change.
"The market day is still important to the town so we should support it, but I think a new location will breathe new life back into it."
Another issue is Burnett and Tancred streets becoming one way, which means they also close when East Street is closed, Todd said.
Councillor Phill Hooper felt no events should occur south of Havelock Street as the council had invested in making Baring Square an event space.
"We spent the moolah out here, let's have it out here," Hooper said.
The councillors voted 9-1 for the section of East Street south of Havelock Street to be off limits to events 'involving trade and associated equipment' between 8am-5:30pm, Monday to Saturday.
Hooper was the lone opposing vote, supporting the alternative option of no events south of Havelock Street.
Compliance and development group manager Ian Hyde said a short closure for an event with no stationary caravans, stalls, tents or other structures could still be permitted.