Your views- Prostitutes | Canterbury Opinion | Local Voices from Canterbury, New Zealand

City councillors will tomorrow consider measures intended to persuade prostitutes to move back to their original Manchester St location and away from the residential area north of Bealey Ave. A council staff report recommends installing public toilets and extra street lighting. The Star asked people for their views.

Ingrid Skolko, 25, student teacher, of Upper Riccarton:

"If that's what (prostitutes) want to do then then should have some facilities, I guess. If there's no law against where they can go, then why not? If it's going to help the community and that's what they're asking for, it will solve some of their problems."

Jim Salter, 69, retired, of Hornby:

"It doesn't really affect me, but it affects a lot of people doesn't it. It would be a good idea to bring them back into what's left of the inner city. I suppose they've got to go where people are, but it's better to get them away from suburban houses."

Darryl Bain, 56, student, of Waikuku Beach:

"I don't know how installing public toilets is going to encourage them to move. That's a bit strange. I think it's great to get them out of the suburbs. Anything that makes them more secure and safe, like extra lighting, is a good thing. But I don't understand how public toilets in Manchester St is going to help."

Kylie Ashworth, 22, hairdressing student, of Rangiora:

"I think the extra lights should help make them safer, but I'm not sure about the toilets. Absolutely it's a good idea to discourage them from suburban streets. They'll go where they want to go, I guess. They came out to Rangiora just after the earthquakes, but I'm not sure if they're still there,"

Sandra Flintoff, 51, medical receptionist, of Riccarton:

"I totally don't agree with them being on suburban streets. It's not a good look for the children who live in the street. The central city would be better because it's not going to affect families. I doubt the council plan will work. I come from south Auckland and the locals don't go to the Manurewa public toilets any more because the girls hand around there all the time."

Sven Baird, 23, cafe supervisor, of Spreydon:

"Prostitutes probably haven't had many good choices in life and have had a bit of a hard walk. Once you're in a comfort zone it's pretty hard to leave it. If the council wants to give them something away from people's houses then absolutely I don't see a problem. If they told them to leave, they're just going to go somewhere else. It's better than trying to shut them down completely."