Residents want strong Takapuna pressure group

George Wood

Takapuna residents have formed a group to challenge future rates rises and plans for bigger and busier roads.

About 75 people attended a meeting on Saturday at which it was decided to form a Takapuna Residents Association aiming to become a strong pressure group of 1000 members.

Meeting chairman Gavin Fletcher said the main issue raised was the North Shore City Council rates for Takapuna, which rose higher than the city average of 9.5 per cent.

"There is huge resentment about the way the council has handled such large rate rises - without residents' backing," he said.

"It's clear that the council has not communicated its decisions very well, with the result that people do not understand why decisions were made. This group will want to know what and why."

Mayor George Wood was not officially invited to attend by the meeting organisers but they gave him a right of reply.

Mr Wood said yesterday that he did not see the formation of the group as a threat to city leadership and that the city had vigorous ratepayers' groups who had strong links with councillors.

Last week, Takapuna residents presented a petition to the council saying they opposed its plan to modify either Byron Ave or Huron St as a busway route.