'Let us in' say businesses
Business and property owners are desparate to retrieve computers, cars and property from the earthquake-devastated CBD in Christchurch.
Christchurch and property business owners are increasingly frustrated at the inner city cordons manned by police and army personnel.
The business owners want to retrieve essential information and technology equipment for payrolls and continued functioning of their businesses.
Onwers of cars are also frustrated at beuing unable to retrieve them especially when emergency teams damage them when attempting to shift them out of the way.
Civil defence today said they will consider a temporary relaxing of the cordon to allow people to recover cars.
Some police staff are using their common sense to assess requests about entering the cordon. But most in the ranks, particularly army personnel, are nervous about departing from orders.
Businessmen are frustrated at the seeing large numbers of security and staff standing around manning checkpoints when they could be used to escort people to buildings on a case by case basis.
While many buildings are damaged or destroyed, about half the 1000-odd commercial buildings may be alright.
Rookie Christchurch City Councillor Jamie Gough has called for “a common sense approach”.
“The civil defence and other authorities are doing a fantastic job but looking ahead, it’s going to be the business sector that leads the regional economic recovery by getting money flowing again.”
Mr Gough, 25, is the son and nephew respectively of Rich Listers Antony and Tracey Gough, both property owners and also holding family interest in Gough Gough and Hamer. The younger Gough was recently appointed to the board of Gough Gough and Hamer.
“There is key intellectual property on servers and payroll information that desperately needs to be retrieved if businesses are to be able to remain in existence.”
Structural engineers are currently evaluating buildings.
“If someone can’t be designated to accompany an engineer into their premises then there needs to be an opportunity to at least give clear and concise instructions to those inside as to what essential items need to be retrieved.”
Mr Gough said in a lot of instances it would be as simple as picking up a flash-drive while they were there.
Mr Gough has been inundated with calls and attended meetings with local business owners and operators desperate to recover information within their offices which cannot be recreated.
Chris Hutching
Wed, 02 Mar 2011
Wed, 02 Mar 2011
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'Let us in' say businesses
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