Clearway helps keep city safe at night

Broken bright blue lines will be painted on Gladstone Road between Lowe Street and Reads Quay this week. They indicate the clearway zone that is being put in place at the bridge end to keep this part of the city free from problem behaviour.

The clearway prevents cars from parking in this area late at night between 11pm – 5am, Monday to Sunday . A two week compliance period, where people will be asked to remove their vehicles from the clearway, starts at 11pm next Wednesday (29 December) with the compliance period ending at 5am on Sunday 16 January 2011.

At the end of the compliance period, police will enforce the clearway by issuing a $60.00 parking infringement ticket. Any unoccupied vehicles will be issued a ticket and then towed from the area and placed in storage. The owner of the vehicle then has to make arrangements with the towage firm to get their car back. This is over and above the $60.00 infringement ticket.

A joint initiative between Gisborne police, Gisborne District Council and Heart of Gisborne, the clearway will help police deal with disorderly behaviour that has become a problem in this area.

“There is strong support for the initiative from Heart of Gisborne, nearby retailers and businesses that are open at night in the area,” says Council engineering and works group manager Peter Higgs . “A clearway system was put in place in Peel Street 12 months ago. Police report that the general behaviour of late night patrons has significantly improved. This has saved police time dealing with incidents in the area. However there is still a problem at the end of Gladstone Road .”

The clearway was confirmed as the best option at Council’s operations committee last week. It has little impact on legitimate users of the area as there is plenty of parking elsewhere in the city at night. It is also a low cost approach. A liquor ban is in place in the CBD and the clearway helps keep the city liquor free because people in the bars cannot conceal drinks in parked cars.

Council is committed to working with police to ensure the city is safe for residents and visitors at all times of the day and night. The clearway system makes it easier for police to do their job and keeps our city centre looking attractive and welcoming.”

The clearway will be in place over the busy summer period and be reviewed in six months.

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