Kerikeri ‘car yard’ will be gone
The ‘car yard’ on Kerikeri Rd will become a thing of the past with signs set to be erected to prevent car sales from the private property.
New Shoots Children’s Centre owns the land opposite the BP service station on the corner of Aranga and Kerikeri roads that has become home to a number of parked cars with for sale signs displayed.
Vision Kerikeri Deputy Chair Rolf Mueller-Glodde says the society doesn’t like the car yard.
‘‘It doesn’t fit to the style of Kerikeri, it doesn’t look good.
‘‘We want the cars gone.
‘‘It’s good to hear that the owners intend to take some action - we’d just appreciate it as soon as possible so that Kerikeri will look at its best during the festive season.’’
When visited on December 6 there were eight cars parked close to the footpath, with some with the grass having grown significantly under the vehicle.
Auckland-based New Shoots project manager Chloe Pratt says the parked cars on their land didn’t really bother them.
The company’s Kerikeri branch will be their first in Northland.
A resource consent for an early childhood education centre and community centre was granted in November with a building consent yet to be submitted.
In response to some complaints she says the company is happy to erect signage warning car sellers they are using private land.
They should be up in the next couple of weeks, she says.
‘‘We are happy to put signage up, that comes at a cost, but we will do it if it makes everyone happy.’’
Far North District Council compliance manager Darren Edwards says once the signs have been erected, council will advise the landowner of any vehicles that continue to use the site, where the landowner could then instruct council to leave notices on the windscreens explaining that they are parked illegally.
The notices would explain that it is illegal to park on the property without the property owner’s consent.
The majority of the car owners using it say they didn’t realise they were parking on private property.
One owner says he knew they weren’t able to be legally enforced to move until signs were erected, but he was happy to move his car when that occurred.