Tyre storing couple reject critics

The couple who are leasing the land and storing tyres on Brunswick Rd say they are just trying to get ahead with a new business.

"We are only trying to stand up. We are environmental people ourselves, we are not going to cause any harm."

The woman, who did not want to be named, asked: "Why did the people not come and speak to us instead of sitting back and making accusations."

Neighbours of the land on Brunswick Rd voiced their concerns about the tyres, which they said were a safety risk and were concerned that the tyres would be dumped and not recycled.

However, the woman said the tyres would be recycled and they had a plan they were working on with other companies.

The woman said they had done everything by the book and had to stop storing tyres while Horizons investigated a complaint; but they still had to pay the bills.

They worked with Horizons to satisfy compliance, she said.

"We have done our homework," she said, and questioned whether people may have it in for them.

The couple took over the lease in July last year. The land was overgrown and a kitchen sink, television and other rubbish had been dumped in the stream, which the Wanganui District Council picked up.

Another Wanganui company dropped off their clean landfill and also bulldozed the land flat.

She said she knew of other places around Wanganui where tyres were being stored, and wondered why they were being fingered.

"They bury tyres at Bonny Glen, we will be recycling ours."

The Chronicle had tried to contact the couple before the story was published, which came as a surprise to the woman when friends called after reading Monday's front page story.

They were also surprised to read about John Gordon Abbott, who owned the two hectares of land they leased through a Wanganui real estate company. A man with the same name has a history of serious crime in North America.

A story on the front page of the Chronicle yesterday said tyres are clean fill. They are not categorised as clean fill by the Wanganui District Council.