Trench warfare erupts between residents

A stand-off over the closure of a rural section of road in Mangawhai has    sparked a bitter neighbourhood battle.
In December 2008, the Kaipara District Council dug a trench across an unformed section of Cames Rd,  which had been used as a shortcut, because of dust and safety complaints.
Since,  residents have been divided over whether the road should be reopened. The dispute has led to physical confrontations,  residents say.
 Some residents oppose re-opening the road, saying the increased traffic  caused  dust and safety concerns.  Others  want  it re-opened, saying  it is no different to many others in the district.
Paul Wightman, who lives on neighbouring Lawrence Rd, says arguments have resulted in physical attacks. One man was allegedly struck on the arm with an iron bar after he rushed at another man with fencing pliers. Rocks, fencing standards and abuse have been hurled at  motorists. Three times the trench has been filled in by unhappy residents.
While no charges have been laid, Mr Wightman says the  situation is  at boiling point. The road was closed without  consultation and  after complaints from a minority of residents, he said.

Council chief executive Jack McKerchar said the section was illegally formed and never officially opened.  He said the council did not know who was responsible for the illegal roading development. Nor had attempts been made to find that out or have the situation remedied.
Mr McKerchar said the council had been unable to get the two rival groups to meet to discuss the issue.
But spokespeople from both groups said no such attempt had been made.
Mr Wightman said Cames Rd was not the only road in the district to cause concern. He said development inconsistencies and incomplete roading in some Mangawhai subdivisions were causing confusion  and could compromise emergency services.
 Last November  an ambulance  had to take a 45-minute detour because the closed road was not known to emergency services.
Mr Wightman believes not enough pressure has been put on some developers to meet  consent obligations. Monetary development contributions were being traded off for lesser development projects, he said.
School bus driver Owen Blundell, who said he opposed Cames Rd being fully open until it was made safe, agreed roads in the area were dangerous: "They are too narrow, full of corrugations, too many corners, with wash-outs and power poles that stick out on to the road.

"Council has allowed subdivisions on the end of country lanes which have no infrastructure to support such development. It sucks."
   Mr Wightman and Mr Blundell said they believed solutions could be found by incorporating some Mangawhai roads into the northern highway extension.

A council official said the issues were being looked into and  it would respond to Northern Advocate queries soon.