New centre's 'right turn' signs vandalised

Someone has vandalised two "no right turn" signs on Tarawera Rd, adding to the confusion of how to safely get into Rotorua's new Redwood Centre at Lynmore.

Motorists have been confused about how to enter the shopping complex with many either ignoring the no right turn rule off Tarawera Rd or travelling up Tarawera Rd and doing dangerous u-turns.

The complex's developer, Tony Bradley, said the main entrance was supposed to be on Te Ngae Rd, meaning those coming from the city side of Te Ngae Rd had to travel around the Te Ngae and Tarawera Rds roundabout and head back the way they came. Mr Bradley said he would put up bigger signs to make this clearer.

The Rotorua Daily Post reported on the confusion in yesterday's newspaper but hours before the newspaper came out, someone pushed over the no right turn arrows.

An Outdoorsman Headquarters staff member, who didn't want to be named, said it was about the fifth or sixth time she had noticed the signs had been pushed down in recent months. She said each time someone eventually pulled the signs back up.

"The thing that is terrifying is if there is a smash, they will end up at my counter," she said.

Mr Bradley said the Tarawera Rd entrance was never meant as the main entrance, only for Lynmore residents coming down Tarawera Rd.

Rotorua District Council client support manager Paul Spurdle said they had had to replace a few of the signs during the past few months after they were pushed down.

He said it was not known if it was happening accidentally or intentionally but if anyone was caught doing it on purpose, they could be charged by police for wilful damage of public property.