George St jeweller Brent Weatherall has been leading the charge against a proposal to make the street one-way, going as far as launching a petition that has been displayed in about 40 centre city businesses.
Saturday marked the end of the petition’s first week on shop counters, and Mr Weatherall said the response had been beyond his wildest dreams.
"It’s blown me away," he said.
"The amount of support out there for retaining the status quo is heartening for me, because I’m on that side of the fence."
People had also been dropping in pages of signatures, or sending them to him in the post.
He believed 90% of the people coming into his shop were signing it.
A preliminary plan approved by the Dunedin City Council earlier this year includes turning George St from Moray Pl — past the Octagon — to Frederick St into a southbound one-way street. It is part of a planned $60million upgrade of the central city.
Mr Weatherall has been a vocal opponent of the plan, arguing that it would be "catastrophic" for businesses.
The petition will be delivered to the council at the end of January.
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins has urged people to take part in a public consultation period expected to start early next year.
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Brent Weatherall well done keep up the excellent work., If Hawkins is "urging people to take part in a public consultation period expected to start early next year." I smell a rat especially if it is online, students are back. The closure of Surfers Paradise Main Street when they were building the tram line killed shops they went out of business, people avoided the area because they could not drive and park, as a result other near by suburbs petitioned to not have the tram line extended to there suburb.
You can drive at park now?? No way unless you plan to do a ‘run in and out’ and use a 30 min or 5 min park on George Street, you can not. The max is a few one hour parks if you can get one!
This petition will make absolutely no difference to DCC and the greens council. They are philosophically committed to removing cars no matter the consequences.
Well done that man, hopefully more people will sign it.
I don't see hawkins and co taking the slightest bit of notice however, him and his crew have an agenda they want to fulfill and come hell or high water they will make it happen.
The single lane concept has much merit. I prefer the pedestrianisation entirely as long as parking is available nearby. Presently in Perth where much of the CBD is pedestrian only. Makes for a pleasant shopping experience. Time people got out of their cars and walked.
People, however, resist change. Sometimes it just has to be delivered and in this case I can’t wait for it to be.