Sandcastle trip opponents 'narrow-minded'

File photo / Coastal News

A long-serving Christchurch city councillor says she will not stand at the next election after abusive phone calls to her family in the wake of a ratepayer-funded trip to study sandcastles in the US.

Councillor Gail Sheriff has returned from Imperial Beach, 24km south of San Diego, where she experienced first-hand the "US Open Sandcastle Competition" over two days.

The trip cost $3958 and was paid for out of a ratepayer-funded training pot. Each councillor is entitled to spend up to $4000 annually from the discretionary fund.

Councillor Sheriff, a councillor for 15 years, broke her silence today and defended the trip which she said gave valuable insights for a forthcoming sandcastle "sculpture" competition in Christchurch.

She said her trip had attracted positive international media attention for Christchurch.

Since the news of her trip was revealed, Councillor Sheriff and her family had become the targets of abuse from angry ratepayers.

"It just saddens me that people can be so nasty. There's no need for it," Councillor Sheriff said.

"I don't want this negative, nasty stuff, people ringing up my husband and telling [him] they hope my plane goes down and people ringing up on the phone and [being] abusive and hanging up. Those people are so narrow-minded and ignorant," she said.

Councillor Sheriff said the negative public response had prompted her to reconsider her decision to stand again at the forthcoming local body elections in October.

"When it really starts to impact upon your family, you have to draw the line somewhere," Councillor Sheriff said.

She said she was now more determined than ever to make sure the sandcastle competition went ahead in Christchurch and that it would be a success.

"I never thought there would be such a reaction to something that I thought was so positive. I believe I have done the right thing. I believe that this is absolutely going to benefit my community."

Councillor Sheriff said her welcome from the event organisers and media at Imperial Beach was amazing and unlike anything she had ever experienced.

She was made an honorary judge at the event and had access to all areas of the competition over several days.

"These people are deadly, deadly serious about what they do," Councillor Sheriff said.

She said the trip was her first ratepayer-funded travel in 15 years and trips by other councillors which just as much had not received any media attention.

The trip is likely to be her last.

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker was contacted for comment. A spokeswoman said the mayor has been in meetings all day and would not be commenting.