Carpark security upgrade supported

Security measures at a public carpark in Masterton are being beefed up following a meeting this week.

Representatives from McDonald's Masterton, Masterton District Council, Wairarapa Police and ADT Armourguard met on Wednesday to discuss security at the shared Lincoln Rd/Chapel St carpark.

The call for security improvements came after it was reported a 37-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were assaulted in the area in separate incidents last month.

McDonald's franchise owner Sitendra Singh said the meeting was to discuss how security could be increased.

Mr Singh said there had been a few incidents at the shared carpark, although none related directly to McDonalds.

"I believe our restaurant is safe and the carpark around our restaurant is safe," he said.

The business already employs security guards on Friday and Saturday nights, although other preventative measures had been discussed by the groups.

As a result of the meeting, ADT Armourguard had agreed to increase their patrols, especially during the weekend.

They also agreed to supply more signs for council to erect to indicate surveillance of the area, and will have radios to call for assistance as needed.

The district council would consider a bylaw to make the 15 McDonald's-owned carparks an alcohol-free zone, Mr Singh said.

A security camera on Chapel St was also to be fixed, Mr Singh said.

Senior Sergeant Carolyn Watson said that although the carpark had never been regarded as a high-risk area, it was a good opportunity to work with business owners to make Wairarapa a safe and enjoyable place.