Plan stirs local feelings

Press, 26 April 1989, Page 29

Plan stirs local feelings

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

Feelings were running high over an Okuti Valley resident’s planning application to open a canteen at his camping ground and erect an outsize sign, his counsel, Ms Tania Cook, said. She told a Wairewa County Council planning hearing in Little River that Mr Pat Robson should be commended for acknowledging his temper and getting her to speak for him. Mr Robson has applied to the council to open a canteen selling packed frozen food and confectionary, films and other items to campers and visitors to his campinng

ground and nature park in the Okuti Valley. He has also applied to erect a sign at the entrance of the park which is larger than the size specified in the district scheme. Three residents have objected to both applications and the owners of the Little River Store, Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Taylor, have objected to the canteen application. Ms Cook said Mr Robson did not intend to compete with the store in the provision of some grocery items but was catering to a need expressed by camp visitors for items, service and opening hours that the Little River store was not

providing. Ms Cook said such a canteen would help the economy of Little River in line with stated goals in the district scheme. She emphasisedd that the canteen would not sell liquid milk or bread and that locals would not be served. The canteen would operate within an existing building and no new buildings were planned. As the former owner of the Little River store, and still retaining some equity in it, it was in Mr Robson’s interest that the store did not close, Ms Cook said. Mrs Taylor said Mr Robson had gone back on a promise not to compete

with the store after he sold it and his action was contrary to the goodwill that had been paid for. She said the store stocked all the items Mr Robson intended to sell, that the area was only large enough to supporrt one store, and if a canteen opened their livelihood would be threatened. Mrs Taylor produced a petition signed by 109 people opposing Mr Robson’s canteen application. Objectors to Mr Robson’s sign were largely opposed to it because of its unsightliness, its unnecessary size and its effect on neighbouring properties. A council decision is expected soon.