Over the past two years the Christchurch City Council has pushed through an urban development strategy unpopular with the city’s population. A 2006 proposal to build a slow-road though the pedestrian mall in Cashel St received 570 submissions, 400 of them being opposed to the proposal. Many young people in particular were against the plan, seeing the council as trying to drive an “undesirable youth element” out of the central city to create better image for shoppers and tourists.
The biggest display of dissatisfaction yet was a protest to ‘reclaim public space’ organised by Food Not Bombs in March 2007. The development plan, currently underway, is being managed by the ‘City Mall Business Steering Committee’ chaired by local millionaire Antony Gough, and also including retail businessman Richard Ballantyne and property developers David Henderson and Melbourne based Michael Ogilvie-Lee, the latter being a significant backer of mayor Bob Parkers election campaign last year.

Recently, the council again angered residents again when it was revealed that they will be removing the mini doughnut cart that has operated in the city for 35 years. City planner Maurice Roers said the cart did not fit the “design or aesthetic” of the City Mall revamp, and a “retail expert” employed by the council had advised against this kind of “clutter.” The owner of the cart, Darryl Duncan, told The Press that people were outraged by the decision, and a petition to save the van has already garnered hundreds of signatures. “It amazes me how upset people are, I don’t know whether it’s just the doughnut cart or whether people have just had enough of the council.” he said. This is a protest outside the council office planned for August 22.