Alarmed Greytown residents are to call on the law to guard against what they see as the stripping of character from their main street.
Greytown resident Margaret Kempton, distressed by the removal of three historic cottages in three weeks, at 25-27, 141 and 183 Main Street, held a meeting on Wednesday
night, to gauge public feeling on the matter.
The meeting, held at the St Andrew's Church hall, attracted 44 people and 20 apologies, which she said was a good number for a first time outing and showed there was a lot of interest in protecting the heritage of what is the first inland town in New Zealand.
"It was just a spur of the moment thing. I've lived here for 40 years and I've always loved the town.
"Then I realised three houses had gone in three weeks, and thought 'there's something going on here'."
She said a wide range of people turned out, including architects, representatives from the Historic Places Trust, the district mayor and councillors, community board members and residents.
She said after a positive discussion it was decided the best step for people to take is to add submissions to one put forward by the Greytown Heritage Society, for the combined district plan, that the Greytown historic precinct be extended.
The Greytown historic precinct now runs from Kuratawhiti Street down to Wood Street and Wakelin House.
The proposed extension would see the precinct run from Papawai Road in the south right through to North Street.
What the historic precinct means is that a resource consent is required by anyone wishing to move or alter heritage houses in that area.
The group who gathered will meet again in the New Year.
