Phase 1 of a five-phase process to bring a controversial trial street design in Gisborne back to near its original state has been completed.

The Gisborne District Council said the work to reinstate Grey Street was expected to be largely finished by early April.

Nearly 90% of more than 1000 submitters during community consultation last year felt the trial street design failed to make it safer or more “vibrant” and “fun”.

The council said an independent review confirmed the trial had reduced vehicle speeds and improved crossing safety, but had issues around parking access, confusing layouts and usability for larger vehicles.

In November, councillors voted on a full reversal of the street’s design, but to retain prioritised areas that were working.

Work to reinstate the street began in February after the council consulted with representatives from Tairāwhiti Adventure Trust, who helped set up the trial through the Streets for People programme, and the Grey St Restoration Group, who were against the changes and protested weekly for more than a year.

In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting, council director of community lifelines Tim Barry said Phase 1 of the programme had been completed.

This work involved re-marking the pedestrian crossing on Childers Rd and removing the existing speed humps between Childers Rd and Kahutia St, which Barry referred to as “Block 1”.

However, work to reinstate parking in Block 1, which was part of Phase 2 of the programme, was dependent on resolving the location of the pedestrian crossing streetlight outside the Cosmopolitan Club.

Two options were being assessed by the council, Barry said.

One option for Phase 2 was relocating the streetlight, removing the concrete separators and reinstating angle and parallel parking in Block 1.

If the council took this approach, work was expected to occur in mid-April and take approximately two days, subject to contractor availability.

Barry said an alternative option being considered by the council was installing planters near the kerb at the crossing to avoid relocating the streetlight and enabling earlier reinstatement of parking.

If this option were chosen, work could occur between March 10 and 20.

Block 1 parking reinstatement would occur either in March or mid-April, depending on the final approach, which was yet to be confirmed by the council, Barry said.

The statement said that over the coming weeks the remaining works would be delivered in several phases.

Phase 3 was proposed to take place between tomorrow and March 13.

This phase is relocating nine planter boxes from the bus depot median to Kiwa Pools and removing existing speed humps on Kahutia St.

Phase 4, proposed for March 23-30, is removing the concrete separators in Block 2, repositioning planters to create a protected area around Alfred Cox Skate Park and installing the revised parking layout.

Lastly, Phase 5, proposed for March 30 to April 6, is reinstating and refreshing road markings across Blocks 1 and 2.