Streets Made Safer Without Scooters and Skaters

Waipa District Council's amended Public Places bylaw has been adopted and from 1 January 2004 skateboards and scooters will be banned from central Te Awamutu and Cambridge streets, and cycles from riding across the Cambridge Town Hall Civic plaza. The bylaw has been introduced following requests from the Community Boards and police to control damage and vandalism to public and private property and to protect pedestrians using the footpaths.

The bylaw is timely given the possible number of skateboards, scooters and new bikes likely to be appearing in Christmas stockings this year.

"Trying to create the balance between the needs of pedestrians and of others wanting and needing to use the footpaths for recreational style activities is now clearly defined," says Jennie McFarlane, Waipa District Councils Environmental Safety Manager. "Public and pedestrian safety must be paramount. The ratepayers and businesses who have borne the cost of the CBD development in Cambridge are disappointed to see the damage that has already occurred and the costs being incurred to remove graffiti and tyre marks from the plaza. In most cases Council has looked to create specific facilities for recreation including skateparks. Other Councils, notably Hamilton City also has a skateboard ban in place in defined areas of the CBD for similar reasons. In the first instance we'll simply be advising anyone breaching the bylaw, but after a period of grace or with repeat disregard for the bylaw enforcement officers, including Council's after-hours contractors will confiscate boards. Confiscated boards or bikes will be held for five days, and then on production of ID and payment of the fee owners will have their boards or bikes returned".

The Council is appointing a number of enforcement officers, and along with police have been authorised to confiscate boards, bikes and scooters and to levy the infringement fee.

Areas covered by the bylaw in Te Awamutu include most central shopping streets, car parks at Roche Street, Mahoe St and the Trust Waikato Events Centre, 3 Guys, Woolworths, The Warehouse, and Mc McDonalds car parks and the tennis courts on Teasdale street.

In Cambridge areas banned for skating cycling and scooting include Victoria Street, Duke Street, Alpha Street, Wilson Street, Hallys Lane and Empire street along with several carparks including Halley's Lane, ANZAC street, Council Service Centre and the Wharehouse carpark.

While the restrictions imposed should ease community concerns, the intention of the bylaw is to make public places safer, and finally gives Council the ability to take preventative action if required.