Ponsonby cafes told to clear the tables

Chairs and tables on the footpath along Jervois Road. Picture / Greg Bowker

It's Auckland's new congestion headache. Tables, chairs and drop-screens taking over the footpath on the Ponsonby cafe strip, making it harder for pedestrians to navigate the public space.

The footpath creep has come to the attention of Auckland City's compliance staff, who are cracking down on cafes, bars and restaurants breaking the rules.

Two cafes at the Three Lamps end of Ponsonby Rd have been ordered to keep their tables and chairs on the shop-side of the footpath only or face a fine of up $20,000.

Three restaurants and bars - GPK, Sponge and The Whiskey - have also been given written warnings.

Around the corner in Jervois Rd, Dida's Food Store has been pleading with the council since October - and has run a petition - to place eight tables on the roadside with drop screens because the pavement slopes away steeply from the doors of the deli. The council has said no.

Dida spokeswoman Angela Jakicevich said the council should treat each case on its merits and be flexible with the bylaw so the area can develop the ambience of Melbourne or Paris.

Ginette Auld, the owner of Atlas Cafe in Three Lamps, has also started a petition after being told to remove six tables from an island on the other side of the footpath outside one of Ponsonby's oldest cafes.

A few doors away, the owner of Sierra Cafe, Wanda Smolenski, has also been told to remove tables from another island.

Ginette Auld acknowledged she was technically in breach of her outdoor seating licence but said she policed the four tables on the shop-side of the footpath to keep the path clear for pedestrians.

The island with its six tables was an area where smokers, people with dogs and people with prams knew they could come and sit outside in the sun.

"The outdoor seating brings some vibrancy to the area," said Atlas patron Tim Laing. "It's nice to have the area looking busy."

Not everyone is happy. Noelene Gillies, who has lived in Ponsonby for 33 years, said cafe and restaurant owners have cheekily been taking over the footpaths and causing a nuisance for the likes of mums with prams, the elderly and pedestrians in general.

Western Bays councillor Penny Sefuiva was particularly concerned about drop screens placed parallel to the kerb and the danger these created for people trying to get out of cars.

She said problems with outdoor dining had gotten out of control and there had to be more consideration given to the fact that the footpaths were public spaces.


Footpath rules

Environment health manager Chris Dee said the council was reviewing the bylaw for street trading, including outdoor seating, which was brought in before al fresco dining took off.

The bylaw states tables should be placed on the shop-side of the footpath and there should be 2m of clear footpath for pedestrians. Businesses pay $60 a year for each outside chair.