Last Tuesday the third and final HDC Safety Audit was held. This is a chance for people living in the Hastings District to share their concerns about the unsafe areas in the district’s three CBDs (Flaxmere, Hastings and Havelock North) The audit in Havelock was held on a night of atrocious weather, but many locals turned up. Among the concerns discussed were the placing of café seating in the street opposite the fountain, where three cafes are situated.

Many people do not give any thought to the placement of chairs and tables when they are seated, as anyone on a mobility scooter or pushing a pushchair can have difficulty negotiating around these obstacles. More thought needs to be given, if you move your table into the sun or out of the wind, to leaving a clear path for those walking past. I am still very keen to hear people’s views on the closing of that stretch of road to traffic.