A Tauranga hotelier is pleased the council has agreed to put a loading bay outside his hotel but is frustrated by their lack of action.

In January, Local Democracy Reporting shared Quest Tauranga Central director Craig Mckenzie's concerns about needing a loading bay.

The footpath outside his Devonport Road hotel has become and unofficial loading zone for courier drivers and the occasional hotel guest.

One of the guests was fined for stopping on the footpath and hotel staff were 'accused” of telling guests to park on the footpath by parking wardens, says Mckenzie.

After conversations with Tauranga City Council (TCC) it was agreed a loading bay was needed, which Mckenzie says is great.

Four months later and the hotelier is still waiting to hear back from council about when the loading bay will be installed.

On January 27, Mckenzie received an email from one of the council's senior transport engineers, with a sketch of the proposed loading bay and was told he would get a call the following week.

Mckenzie says he did not get that call and has sent further emails asking for an update but has not had a reply.

'It started with a hiss and roar. ‘Here's some plans and we'll get into it,' and then complete radio silence. Emails, messages, he doesn't respond,” he says.

Asked what he thought of the time taken to install the loading bay Mckenzie replied: I don't know their [the council's] priorities and I know there's a lot of work they're doing, so I'm not one to cast stones.”

'But to me it seems a ridiculous amount of time for what looks like a small job. For something that will help businesses out in the street, which businesses are struggling.”

Where the loading bay is going is also a concern for the hotelier, it will be placed directly on the road.

Mckenzie is worried cars could turn out in front of a large delivery truck blindly into oncoming traffic.

The linen delivery truck has permission to stop on the road until a loading bay is installed but Craig Mckenzie said this was dangerous. Photo: Supplied.

The hotel also receives three linen deliveries a week and the large truck offloads heavy cages of linen which could fall into traffic, he says.

The council advised him the truck could stop on the road out front until the loading bay was installed.

When the linen truck stopped on the road, motorists were tooting their horns and pulling out from behind it blindly, says Mckenzie.

They now get the truck to nudge into the start of their narrow driveway instead of parking partly on the footpath like it did previously.

He has suggested to council using some of the footpath for the loading zone because he believes it is wide enough to cater for both pedestrians and vehicles.

'There's still so much room on the footpath and it doesn't cause any grief. I think officiating what's currently being used would make a difference.”

Mckenzie says vehicles use the area between six to 12 times a day.

Responding to Mckenzie's concerns TCC director of transport Brendan Bisley says they planned to install the loading bay this week, but the rain meant that had not been possible.

"The road needs to be dry to paint the line markings, so we are keeping a close eye on the forecast for our next clear day to install the loading bay,” he says.

In terms of the timeframe, Bisley says there were 'various processes” that needed to happen before installation.

The bylaw must first be updated around the use of the loading zone which was then approved by council, he says.

'Once the bylaw has been updated and approved, the work gets scheduled with contractors.

"The contracting team have a significant amount of work on their plates and with this project being weather dependent, the timing for the installation has unfortunately been postponed,” says Bisley.

The council approved the bylaw change for the loading bay at a meeting in March.

With placement of the loading zone, Bisley says council had 'carefully considered” all options including the suggestion of using the footpath.

'Our concern with using part of the footpath for the loading bay is pedestrians not being aware of trucks reversing and the limited visibility truck drivers have manoeuvring into that space.

'After taking all of this into account, we believe the safest option is to keep the loading bay on the road.

'Truck drivers go through health and safety training and must actively manage risks around them when loading and unloading goods, our biggest concern is for pedestrians and maintaining the full footpath is important to mitigate those pedestrian safety risks.”

Asked about not hearing back from a transport engineer, Bisley responded: 'Council staff have shared the loading zone plans with the hotel manager and have also had phone conversations outlining why it will not be possible to install the loading zone across the footpath.

'While a decision has been made to install the loading zone on the road, we would welcome a meeting to discuss the various risks and concerns which were factored into our decision.”

Bisley says the estimated cost of the loading bay would be $1000.

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