An agreement intended to bring closure to months of wrangling over later night antics on The Strand is being adopted by the Tauranga City Council.
The bars and restaurants along The Strand are to become footpath tenants of the areas directly outside their businesses and the walkways on The Strand side of the Licence to Occupy areas will become permanent.
A sketch of how Amphora bar/restaurant sees its future.
The walkway along The Strand, which was moved from directly outside the bars as a trial in May, will now be permanently located between the bar/restaurant LTO areas and the street furniture.
The other issue facing businesses, when to move the outdoor furniture from day to night mode, is resolved by the now permanent LTO areas outside the bars.
The council's adoption of the recommendation is expected to bring closure to a lengthy period of wrangling between the businesses, the public and authorities over the future direction of Tauranga's bar and restaurant strip.
The change comes about through The Strand Precinct Focus Group and was presented to the council by city centre project manager Duarne Lankshear.
The Strand businesses all get 4.7 metres of footpath outside their businesses that they can permanently occupy.
It will mean an improvement in the general look of The Strand because businesses will be better able to present their businesses, says Duarne. It is also hoped to increase businesses with more breakfast brunch offers for morning trade.
An issue for councillors is the 50 per cent rent discount The Strand businesses are presently paying for their piece of pavement. It proved a sticking point for Murray Guy who said The Strand businesses should be treated the same by the council as businesses trading on footpaths at The Mount, Greerton and other areas of the city.
The rental issue will be revisited after a settling in period.
6 comments
Its a dogs breakfast
Posted on 22-09-2010 10:15 | By dogsbody
it\'s a dogs breakfast down there, you cant walk sensibly along the obstacle course of furniture and signs, even a couple cant sensibly pass another coming the otherway. this will just make the mess worse. now anyone walking at night will be forced out into the weather. Its a disgraceful shambles.
Terrible decision
Posted on 22-09-2010 12:18 | By Becks
I agree with the above! What a mess. I work along the Strand and moving the furniture to underneath a covered area pushing patrons out into wet conditions and alongside a popular road is such a poor decision! The trial has been a laughing point for many visitors to the area saying that cannot believe how terrible it is! I have had to apologise on behalf of the council to elderly for making them walk in the rain. Which we have had a lot of this year! Yet another poor decision made by the council with ill regard to businesses in possibly the hardest economic times and also the general public! WELL DONE!
Wet, wet, wet - and dangerous
Posted on 22-09-2010 12:19 | By SML
No wonder people don\'t (and won\'t) use the Strand, when the verandahs will be only available to patrons of restaurants! Being disabled, it\'s a nightmare trying to park close to restaurants at night (people seem to think the one disabled park is not used after 5pm, that all disabled people should be home in bed!!), and now the situation is going to be made far worse, with no covered pavements! WHAT IS THE COUNCIL THINKING OF??!! Certainly not the growing disabled/aged population, for whom walking without cover in the often-wet Tauranga weather is not only dangerous healthwise (colds, etc), but dangerous from the risk of slips and falls. Why should only restaurant patrons be under cover? Why isn\'t the council providing covered pedestrian access? Who owns the Strand pedestrian areas? Oh, yes, the RATEPAYERS do! Speak up, people, it could be YOU out in the rain! Vote for those who make access possible and safe for the disabled and the elderly. BTW, one disabled park in the Strand area is a pathetic joke.
And until nowe I thought I was a Lone Voice ...
Posted on 22-09-2010 22:01 | By Murray.Guy
Tuesday's vote went 10 in support of the changes and one against (yours truly). I have a number of issues, being (in no specific order of priority): *The Strand, in part, will surely one day be, either, one way traffic or no cars, when enough enlightened folk get to make the decisions. This will significantly enhance options available, including parking, safety and all weather access. *Nowhere else in Tauranga City do business owners (users of our public/footpaths) get charged for the area used. Only on the Strand. Not charge on Devonport Rd, Greerton Village, Mount Maunganui. Likewise Downtown Tauranga is the ONLY retail precinct that has parking meters to subsidize the balance of the city. All I ask is that we have the moral fortitude / courage, to apply the same rules city wide. Quite simple really. * TCC elected members have agreed to spend $25m of ratepayers money ($20m too much) upgrading the Strand waterfront, they say, to assist revitalize the Strand, to enhance the economic viability. Their actions, don't match their words. * If exclusive areas of use are to be provided without making the provision of all-weather protection, then I must retain my right (and ability) to access the Strand footpath adjacent the buildings under the verandas. Thank you for sharing your thoughts above - I am not alone. Wow!
Alan Freer
Posted on 23-09-2010 14:49 | By Alan
I for one won't use the Strand Premises when it it is wet!!!
DRINKEES
Posted on 02-10-2010 10:49 | By The Master
Guess the idea is to move back into Devonport Road. Bring back BEACH STREET and all that
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