Council unlikely to shut walkway

This walkway is causing concern for some Tikipunga residents.

A group of Tikipunga residents who asked Whangarei District Council to close a walkway because of unsavoury behaviour by some people using it have had their request turned down and been told to take their concerns to the police.

More than 20 residents of Winston St and Vista Place asked the council to close the walkway, which runs from Paramount Parade into Winston St.

The residents said their quiet streets have been ruined thanks to the behaviour of some of those using the walkway, with complaints of rubbish left in the walkway and thrown into gardens in the neighbourhood; broken bottles and people urinating and defecating in the alley. The residents complained that some of those users had become aggressive when approached about their behaviour, with one woman having her car kicked and having her driveway blocked when she tried to get out.

They also complained of abusive and obscene language, plants being pulled up and graffiti on fences, and asked the council to close the walkway to give them some peace.

The request is to be discussed at today's infrastructure committee meeting, but council staff have recommended that the request be turned down and had already advised the petitioners that they should take their concerns to police instead.

The council said the walkway is designed for people living in Winston St, Vista Place and a portion of Corks Rd to have pedestrian access to Tikipunga High School, Primary School and shopping complex off Paramount Parade. The council received a previous petition from residents in June 2007 also requesting that this walkway be closed and at that time closed it for a two-month trial, but decided to keep it open.

During the previous closure, the local community was concerned closure of the walkway would mean a much longer walk for their children to schools along busy roads, the agenda says.

But one of the petitioners, who has lived in the street for eight years and did not want to be named for fear of retribution, said the council's response was "a crock".

"Calling the police is no use as by the time they get here anybody causing problems has left. It's only if the police happen to be here at the time that they can do anything about it. But they are never here at the right time," he said.

The man said weekend nights were often the worst and Easter Weekend had been hell with late-night disturbances from people using the walkway and the situation was dragging the neighbourhood down. He said the council's inaction made a mockery of its motto "creating the ultimate living environment".

"It's not a good environment ... and it's just getting worse."