Councillors cancel Hells Angels visit

A group of Wanganui district councillors have cancelled a visit to the Hells Angels gang headquarters in the city next week.

Four councillors had accepted an invitation from the gang to visit their property on Tuesday.

Police and Wanganui mayor Michael Laws criticised the visit, Mr Laws describing it as "bizarre and wrong".

Councillor Rob Vinsen said the visit was cancelled because it was unreasonable to expose the property's neighbours to the media interest the visit would attract, The Dominion Post reported.

High fences around the property in Kaikokopu Rd have come under scrutiny from the council after Parliament amended the Local Government Act to allow councils and police to seek a removal order for fences or other structures that were intimidating or contributed to illegal activities.

Mr Laws said the council should take some leadership on the matter and apply to Wanganui District Court to have the fortifications removed.

- NZPA