Questions are being asked as to why large concrete blocks are impeding vehicle access between a growing residential community and an east Auckland shopping precinct.
The blocks are located at the entrance to Bellingham Road, off Stancombe Road in Flat Bush.
While they allow pedestrian and bicycle access, they’re stopping vehicles from traveling between Stancombe Road and the Ormiston Town Centre located at the other end of Bellingham Road.
Local resident, justice of the peace and marriage celebrant Raji Singh contacted Auckland mayor Wayne Brown, Auckland Council and the Howick Local Board on June 7 to say Bellingham Road is completed and it isn’t easy to understand why it’s still closed.
Singh told the Times he has a friend with a business at Ormiston Town Centre and they’re unhappy with the situation as “they’re losing business”.
“This is already built and working fine, and people can go through, so why do they make the businesses suffer?
“It will make it so much easier for residents to go to the town centre. They can just drive across and pick up their groceries rather than clogging up other roads.”
He’s also concerned about a glass panel in one of the bus stops in the blocked-off section of Bellingham Road having been smashed in a suspected case of vandalism.
“They spent a massive amount of money to build this road, put traffic lights and street lights here, but they kept it blocked.
“I think after Covid all the businesses are suffering so opening this road will help them grow.”
Singh’s email query to the mayor was forwarded to Auckland Transport (AT), which replied on June 13.
The response from AT refers to Bellingham Road as the Ormiston Town Centre Main Street Link and says it was a “major project which involved the construction of a bridge and footpaths, plus the new link road between Stancombe Road and the Ormiston Town Centre”.
“The project also included utility works such as streetlighting, watermains connections, sewage connections, and stormwater drainage.
“Construction on AT’s stage of the project was delivered in 12 months within the original scope of the programme. This was completed in December, 2022.
“A section of Bellingham Road has been managed by a private developer and construction was completed in January, 2024.
“Due to this, the process of transferring ownership of the Bellingham Road extension to AT is still in progress.”
That process involves working through various legal matters and the road cannot open to the public until its ownership has transferred to AT, the agency says.
“AT still anticipates the Main Street Link will open to the public by the end of June 2024.
“AT are not holding up this process and we are unable to publicly comment on negotiations with a landowner (developer).
“I understand we’re nearly there with the transfer-of-ownership process.”
AT says as it doesn’t legally own the road it has no responsibility in relation to vandalism there and such issues should be raised with police.
Singh says if AT has an issue around ownership of the road “they can open it and sort it out”.
“Since this [the road] has started to be built they’ve had sufficient time to sort out the ownership. The whole thing is a shambles.”
A spokesperson for the developer involved, Todd Property Group, says: “Todd Property is pleased to confirm we are nearing the final stages of the ownership transfer process for the Bellingham Road extension, a crucial transport link for Ormiston Town Centre and the Ormiston community.
“We understand the community’s need for safe and easy access to the Town Centre and share the eagerness in seeing this road open to the public.
“Our team has been proactive in providing all necessary information and cooperation to AT.
“We are confident the remaining steps will be completed promptly, allowing for the Main Street Link to open as anticipated.”
