Since opening in 2015, the Riccarton bus lounge has been a hotspot for trouble-causing youth, which is affecting surrounding businesses.
Harcourts Riccarton business manager Chantall Sumner told Western News youth issues had improved from last year, but business still had to deal with "anti-social aggressive behaviour".
"It is not good for us as a business. It is embarrassing, especially if we are sitting here with a client and they are loitering around there using bad language," she said.
She supported the loitering bylaw. But the city council's head of community support, governance and partnerships, Lester Wolfreys, said the bylaw is a reactive rather than a preventative response.
"It may reduce the problem activity around the bus lounge. However, it may also displace the activity to other locations," he said.
Thorn said the idea would have to be discussed with Canterbury police chiefs before a submission was made.
The city council's head of strategic policy Helen Beaumont said a new bylaw would need an amendment of the Public Places Bylaw 2008, which can take months of reports and public consultation and hearings.
Thorn said he would like Division St looked at specifically for the bylaw.
Nearby property owner Arthur McKee said the bylaw was "common sense" and something he and other tenants had been advocating for.
- Western News
