Hells Angels' building assesses

HELLS ANGELS: ASSESSING compliance of alterations at the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club headquarters in Wanganui is continuing after a contracted designer gained a foot in the door.
During yesterday's Wanganui District Council infrastructure committee meeting, customer services manager Stuart Hylton told members the assessment had stalled last month when the designer could not gain access to the headquarters at 48 and 50 Kaikokopu Rd, Aramoho.
"Early in the year, as part of police raids on the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club headquarters, the council's building control officers inspected the premises to view non-compliant building work," Mr Hylton said.
The inspection, he said, revealed substantial alterations had taken place over the years without relevant building consents or approval.
"I can add today that the designer has since gained access and is preparing plans that will allow us to assess compliance."
The entire process has proven difficult for council staff and has generated a series of correspondence between council and the Hells Angels beginning with a letter on April 19 requesting an explanation why work done was undertaken without consent, and who carried out the work.
Then on May 5 a second letter was sent asking for full documentation of alterations and procurement of a "Safe and Sanitary"/Certificate of Acceptance notice.
On July 18 it was clear the process had stalled. "The designer reported that progress to inspect and document non-compliant building work had stalled due to his inability to access the site and buildings," Mr Hylton said in his report to the committee.
On July 19 yet another letter was sent to the owners/occupiers requesting access for the designer and advising failure to comply would result in the council initiating appropriate court action.
Yesterday the infrastructure committee gave staff the armoury to take any legal action available if need be. Chairman Don McGregor successfully moved that: Council takes every legal action available to it without delay to ensure the Hells Angels headquarters at 48 and 50 Kaikokopu Rd is compliance with the Building Act 1991.
Cr Randhir Dahya said he was surprised the item was even on the committee agenda given it appeared to be an obvious case of non-compliance that officers should have dealt with in-house.
Mayor Michael Laws, however, admitted that it was at his request the item appeared.
"I put it on the agenda after an approach by acting police area commander Duncan MacLeod asking where we were at with this. I was embarrassed ? I didn't know. By placing it on the agenda we get an update and it also sends a message to staff that they should get on with the job," Mr Laws said. Attempts to get a response from the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club failed.