Grey Lynn Community Centre... DANGEROUS FRONT STEPS.

Campaign to replace
dangerous front steps

1st December 2001

The dangerous front steps.
The City Council should act urgently to replace the dangerous steps outside the front of the recently-constructed Grey Lynn Community Centre before other innocent folks are injured, declared Dr Bruce Grenville, former Secretary of the GLCC's Management Committee, today.

People using the steps
expect them to be safe.

Zero tolerance
Dr Grenville became the first victim of the front steps, which look beautiful in the sunshine, but become like melted icecream when wet. After an accident in July 2001, when he broke an arm while rushing to the Centre in the rain at their request to fix a computer problem, Dr Grenville repeatedly raised the danger at the monthly meetings of the Community Centre's committee. The complaint about the dangerous steps was passed on to the City Council, who sent someone to investigate. A Council whitewash pronounced the steps "safe", and suggested that the fault was Dr Grenville's own. At each subsequent meeting, Dr Grenville was shouted down as the Council tried to sweep the whole matter "under the carpet."

"They may pass the buck with others, but I have zero tolerance for corruption," Dr Grenville declared. His persistence in seeking justice was rewarded when he discovered identical steps at Auckland University of Technology, which have large warning signs on each side of the dangerous steps. "This shows that even though three City Council 'experts' claim such steps are safe, others realise the truth.

Identical dangerous steps
at A.U.T. with warning sign.

The incompetent City Design architect cannot claim to be ignorant of the danger in specifying such lethal and inappropriate steps, and if she does claim ignorance, then my assertion of her incompetence is proven," Dr Grenville added. "I was keen to summon the architect to the Committee to be cross-examined, but the Old Boy network swung into action and ensured that I was not re-elected at the recent Grey Lynn Community Centre AGM. They find a whistle-blower in their midst too embarrassing!"

Several references to the incident appeared in veiled form at the recent AGM, itself a sham of local democracy, with the Minutes of the previous AGM being declared "missing without trace."

Steps drenched and slippery after a shower.

"It has certainly been an eye-opening experience, this whole scenario," remarked Dr Grenville, a long-time Grey Lynn resident, and a volunteer helper at the Community Centre for some years. "I had heard of corruption being big overseas, but didn't expect to see this sort of thing in sedate and friendly Grey Lynn!"

Fix the problem now!
Dr Grenville suggests there are two options, ignoring the Council's preferred "do nothing" option. First and best solution is to grind down the front steps so they have a rough surface and will no longer be slippery underfoot. The second option is to put up large warning signs on both sides of the steps, as AUT has done with its steps. But even with such signs, small children and the elderly will probably still suffer accidents. "I would personally like to see that architect crucified and disbarred from practising her profession," Dr Grenville concluded.

Steps drying after a rainfall.

When will they act?
It is now six months after the accident, and nothing has been done, other than a big chatfest. Must we wait for a death on the dangerous steps before the bureaucracy of City Hall at last takes safety concerns seriously? On the other hand, if the Mayor or a Councillor broke a bone, what's the bet all would be fixed within thirty minutes?

Repair effort,
19th December 2001

Today a City Council maintenance crew appeared at the Community Centre, and attempted to fix the danger by grinding several millimeters off the top of the dangerous steps. See photo. Sadly, it has not reduced the slipperiness. Back to the drawing board!

Final success,
May 2002

Ten months after the first casualty (in July 2001), the Community Centre and the City Council have at last managed to erect a warning sign on the front door.

While hardly an ideal solution (in that it does not warn of the dangerous slipperiness when wet as AUT's signage does), it represents an improvement. Ten months of City Vision bureaucrats drinking tea and scoffing banquets have solved the problems.

The Dangerous Steps Case in GLCC archives:

GLCC Committee minutes, 13th August 2001: "Correspondence: From Wages regarding the slippery steps (when wet) at the main entrance. This arose from Bruce Grenville having an accident and ending up in plaster. Kate sent him flowers on behalf of the Committee."

GLCC Co-ordinator's Report for Management Committee meeting, 11th August 2001: "Building matters: I have talked to three people from Council re Bruce's broken arm and all seem to feel that it was a freak accident and that there is nothing we can do to change the steps. Please see letter from Wages re this incident."

Letter to GLCC from Wages dated 8th August 2001:
The Chairperson,
Grey Lynn Community Centre Inc.,
510 Richmond Road,
GREY LYNN.

Dear Sir,

At our Annual General Meeting last night, the following motion was passed:

"THAT we write to the Grey Lynn Community Centre expressing our deep concern as a tenant about the slippery ceramic edging on the front steps, a fall on which recently caused one of our members to suffer a broken bone. We urge the Centre to insist on a suitable non-slip surface to prevent such accidents happening again." MOVED: Irene, 2nd: Hugh, CARRIED.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Gareis,
Chairperson.

GLCC Committee minutes, 10th September 2001: "Dangerous Front Steps: The Council does not plan to take any action over the dangerous steps – only one broken bone so far."

GLCC Committee minutes, 12th November 2001: "General Business: Bruce brought up the slippery steps problem showing us a photo of the AUT with a warning sign to that effect. Graeme, with Kate to meet with Mauri, our maintenance man to look at options."

Co-ordinator's Report to the Annual General Meeting, 28th November 2001: "Building Safety. A safety issue arose mid year with Management Committee Member Bruce Grenville slipping on the front steps and breaking his arm. Talks with Council have been ongoing re this matter and Graeme is at present continuing these."

Contractors grinding down the surface of the dangerous steps on 19th December 2001, two days after OSH was urged to look at the danger. Prior to this, five months of bureaucratic inaction achieved nothing but a chatfest – thanks for nothing, City Vision!

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More information: please call the Centre Co-ordinator, Kate Millington , AK 378-4908 or e-mail her.