Action on walkways long overdue

Former Far North District councillor and Te Hiku Community Board chairman Dennis Bowman was not surprised to learn last week that Kaitaia woman Sharleen Edmonds was unhappy with the state of Kaitaia's walkways (Nappies, needles, broken glass - who cares? January 16).

He said the walkways were a real concern to the community board when he was elected chairman in 2010, but moving the council to respond to the problem had been a frustrating process.

"They were built in the early 1950s/60s, when Shank's pony was the way to get around. Now they are used for very different purposes, much to the dissatisfaction of the police, schools and adjoining residents," he said.

The community board had spent a good deal of time working with the police, schools and residents to close the Pompallier (Eden Terrace to Worth Street) and Redan Road to Masfen Terrace walkways, as a matter of public safety, but it had been a long haul.

"What a rigmarole," Mr Bowman said.

"Pompallier was only granted permission by the (2010-2013) council, at the second attempt, to close that walkway if it met the costs. The school did that, and there has been a marked reduction in anti-social behaviour, but it should not have taken years to accomplish."

The Redan Road/Masfen Terrace walkway, which he likened to a tunnel, had been marked for closure for more than three years, Mr Bowman having no idea what was behind the delay. Closure required public notification of anyone who might be affected, and that had been done.

"A council staff member knocked on every door adjacent to the walkway, and only one resident opposed closing it. She had been unaware that the community board was to extend the concrete footpath from Redan Road to Norman Senn Drive to compensate for the closure, however, and on that basis she supported closing it, making its approval unanimous," he said.

"True to its word, the community board built the footpath, funded from its own tight budget, and all that's needed now to make another area safe is a wheelbarrow of timber, a hammer and nails.

"You would think with looming local government reform, where councillors and boards are intended to work together, we wouldn't be seeing issues like this," he added.

"Do I sound grumpy? Yes I am. There is very little communication going on here. This has nothing to with the current council though. It was the last one that simply didn't bother to do the job."

Meanwhile he took his hat off to Ms Edmonds for having the integrity to speak out as a concerned resident.

"I hope Lu'Morz will see you for what you are and send you a bouquet of flowers. I'll be happy to pay," he said.