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New Public Places Bylaw to benefit everyone

New Public Places Bylaw to benefit everyone

Efforts to ensure Horowhenua residents and visitors can safely enjoy public spaces throughout the District is the aim of the new Public Places Bylaw 2016 which came into effect last Friday.

Horowhenua District Council Customer and Regulatory Services Manager Mike Lepper says the Bylaw is simply a means to regulate and manage the use of public places and to avoid instances of nuisance or safety hazards, or similar. He said another focus is to maintain public health and safety, well-being and enjoyment.

The Bylaw covers various activities including:

• obstructions in public places; such as footpaths or pedestrian and vehicle entrances/exits

• nuisances, safety and behaviour in any public place

• busking and mobile trading

• stalls, display of goods, outdoor dining, donation seeking

• signage; such as free-standing signs, real estate signs, and signs fixed to the outside of vehicles

• skating devices; such skateboards and scooters

Mr Lepper said that for activities such as busking and donation seeking, the Bylaw sets out a simple permit system which has worked well for a number of years. He said it also assists members of the public to manage and coordinate their activities. Permits are free in most cases and can be applied for at Council.

He said there are three distinct benefits to a permit system.

“It ensures that people are clearly aware of the things they may need to comply with before conducting their activity. It gives surety to those conducting their activity that they will not have to compete with other users at the same times. And, if the activity is outside a retailer premises it ensures the retailer has an opportunity to consent to what is being proposed.”

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Mr Lepper said that regarding signage, generally this had not caused great issue.

“Complaints regarding signage are followed up and resolved by Council officers without major issues. Regular inspections are also made within the central business district areas to ensure signage is not creating a nuisance or hazard to pedestrians.”

The Bylaw also sets out rules for using skating devices such as skateboards or scooters, primarily to avoid nuisance, danger or damage; and also included a list of areas where it was banned.

Mr Lepper said that during the public consultation on the draft Bylaw, held late last year through to early this year, a number of submitters encouraged Council to ban smoking in central business district areas set aside for footpath dining.

“Whilst this proposal was not carried through to the Bylaw, the Council will be consulting with food premises operators to encourage a voluntary implementation of no-smoking zones in individual outdoor dining areas,” he said.

The Public Places Bylaw 2016 is available to view and download from the Bylaws page on Council’s website www.horowhenua.govt.nz

ENDS

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