Media Release - Local Media Only
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Thursday 10 April 2008

Mt Albert Misses Out on Vital Cleaning Services

Mt Albert Shopping Centre yesterday missed out on joining eight other town centres which will receive an increase in their street cleaning budget next year. Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) members of Auckland City Council's Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee decided yesterday which town centres will receive extended services of street orderlies but Mt Albert was not included despite strong arguments put forward by City Vision-Labour Councillors.

Eden-Albert Councillor Cathy Casey moved an amendment to include Mt Albert for funding next year which was supported by Eden-Albert Councillor Glenda Fryer, but the amendment was lost.

Councillor Casey is concerned and upset that Mt Albert has been overlooked again and she says "As a local councillor, I have heard lots of complaints about littering and graffiti around the Mt Albert shops and there is a feeling that Mt Albert is the poor relation of Kingsland. Frequent complaints and public observation show Mt Albert is due more cleaning and it would really help to build pride and prosperity in the town centre.

"When residents raised safety concerns around the Mt Albert shops, the police responded by establishing a new community constable for the area. For a long time residents have been raising concerns about the 'look and feel' of the shopping centre and the council is still offering nothing to address the issues.

"It looks to me as if the funding for extra cleaning is going to the areas with the squeakiest wheels. One of the problems is that Mt Albert does not yet have a business association to lobby council to assist development of the shopping centre. However, a group of us is working hard to establish one and if anyone is interested in becoming part of that, they can contact me," Councillor Casey concludes.

ENDS

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