U-turn: Christchurch city councillor defends controversial cycleway vote

A Christchurch city councillor whose election campaign centred around stopping a controversial cycleway has defended her apparent U-turn on the issue just months after being elected.

Victoria Henstock vehemently opposed the planned Wheels to Wings cycleway in Harewood during the lead up to the October local body elections.

It was one of the of if not the key battle in the Papanui Ward, which saw sitting councillor Mike Davidson – a cycleway advocate – ousted and Henstock elected.

Many businesses along Harewood Rd oppose the cycleway, saying it is over engineered, will be dangerous for cyclists and motorists, and take away car parking which will affect businesses.  

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City councillors, including Henstock, voted overwhelmingly not to delay the project last week.

Councillors were asked to decide how to progress spending of the Government’s use-it-or-lose-it Climate Emergency Response Fund – Transport Choices.

Henstock defended her decision.

“We were being asked to decide which Government funded projects should be part of that programme of works and which should be deferred to mitigate the impact of additional work,” she told The Star.

“A no vote would also have placed us at risk of losing out on that Crown funding and placed additional pressure on our already over-loaded work programme,

“Council officers informed us repeatedly that we have serious deliverability issues and that we are under extreme financial pressure,” she said.

Davidson said the decision from councillors shows clear support for the Wheels to Wings.

“I am really pleased the council has decided to proceed with this really important road safety and climate project but disappointed that attempts to cancel or delay it appear to be ongoing.”

It was local school children who first asked the city council to improve Harewood Rd so they can bike to school, he said.

Staff deemed the cycleway project was too risky to defer and has previously been given a very clear directive to prioritise CERF-funded projects for obvious reasons, said Henstock

Copenhagen Bakery on Harewood Rd will lose on-street parking if the cycleway is built.

Owner Donna Thomsen said she is more confused than ever following the vote last week but is confident Henstock will continue to oppose the multi-million dollar project.

“What upsets me most is other more deserving projects around the city are now being deferred while this one is allowed to proceed,” Thomsen said.

Said Henstock: “I struggled in good conscience to support the revised programme or works.

"In the end, I simply had to accept the executive officer’s advice, but I did request it be recorded I wanted the Wheels to Wings cycleway on the deferment list and I  will still be pursuing that through the Annual Plan process.”

Asked by The Star why she did not abstain from voting on the issue, like Cr Yani Johanson did, Henstock said: “I prefer to be pragmatic. I want to be a facilitator and get stuff done. Fundamentally, I want to progress spending the CERF.”

At the city council meeting, Banks Peninsula city councillor Tyrone Fields had a crack at Merivale residents.

In response to a remark from Cr Aaron Keown, Fields said for every person that says “bloody cyclist” there are 10 people saying “effing Merivale tractors”.

Fields told The Star it was a throwaway remark.

“I am sure no one was offended by it but, if they were, they have probably got some bigger things in their lives to worry about,” he said.

-By Tony Simons