The Local

My love affair with The Gables, on the corner of Kelmarna and Jervois, has been largely in my head in latter years, though once upon a time I used to be a regular patron.

At other times I have watched World Cup rugby finals amongst a cheering, beer-soaked crowd at The Gables which, to my surprise, I really enjoyed, participated in quiz night, eaten Sunday roasts with Yorkshire pudding, extra gravy on the side in a little white jug, celebrated a friend’s birthday and simply sat and chinwagged by the fire with my ex over a bottle of red. I’ve even met up with a blind date there. Surely he was as bored as me because I spent the entire hour thinking up exit strategies. Hardly a scintillating companion.

In latter years, I have passed by The Gables several days a week as I got in my 60-minute walk. Once, on a blue-mood day, feeling very alone, I heard my name called as I walked by the beer garden cum smokers’ corner. Looking up, my downcast mouth lifted into the biggest smile. There was my bro-in-law, his wife and their two year old. Bro-in-law walked over with his boy in his arms and we kissed through the glass barrier. My mood lifted immediately and I walked on with a definite spring in my step. I’ll never forget that moment because I really needed connection and there it was courtesy of my local and extended family. I have loved seeing The Gables sit there all local and inviting, family friendly and low-rise. Part of the village. There is something special about a local pub. It’s a hub, the heart of many a village. Like in England. Even when it became Speights Ale House, I always referred to it as The Gables. As did many other locals.

And now it sits abandoned and looking terribly lonely. Buildings have lives of their own. Now empty, this building seems so forlorn. Akin to an old, dumped dog at a shelter.

I know architecturally The Gables wasn’t the prettiest but goodness knows what grey, generic apartment building will replace it. And shade the first block of villas in Kelmarna Avenue. Certainly my old veggie patch would not have thrived like it did with a complex so large obliterating sunshine. And then there’s the traffic and what most gets me upset is the sewerage problem. How will the system cope? It cannot. Our local, inner-city beaches are gems - but unfortunately getting dirtier and more polluted by the day.

The Erawan Thai restaurant villa disappearing from Jervois Road was bad enough. Why it was not heritage listed I can’t fathom. What will be built there? More retail and small apartments costing mega bucks? I know everything changes and progress is inevitable. But is a huge apartment block with retail (do we need or want more retail in Herne Bay village?) really the best thing in place of a local pub? Locals I’ve spoken to don’t think so.

We can only hope that the property developer and architect treat the design with integrity. Make it as village-feel as possible. We need to remember that when things change, usually there is no going back. Money/huge profits at the expense of aesthetics and ecology are most often at the root of change and developments such as The Gables. Yes, I understand we need more housing. We don’t want another generic suburb with leaky buildings and ho-hum design. Personality is key whether it be Herne Bay, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, West Lynn, Te Atatu or Eketahuna.

I am upset for Herne Bay village, upset for the surrounding homes and families that will cop the consequences of this development, and sad I will never walk past the good old Gables and hear my name called, tread the ugly carpet or chat by the fire. There’s something about a local. (DEIRDRE THURSTON)

The Gables Neighbourhood Group, www.gng.org.nz