Vulcan Lane may not get blues as council rethinks

The red-pebble pavers of Vulcan Lane look set to stay after Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard yesterday said he was working on a solution that would please most people.

Mr Hubbard said he wanted to talk to the rest of the people in Vulcan Lane, after last week's meeting with the three fashion leaders spearheading the fight to preserve the pedestrian strip. The fashion leaders, with overwhelming public support, object to Vulcan Lane being paved with bluestone and given a "bland, homogeneous" look.

"I have no doubt there will be an appropriate solution that will please the vast majority of people," Mr Hubbard said.

When the controversy flared 10 days ago, Mr Hubbard held out no hope for preserving the status quo. Now he is setting the ground for a backdown to respond to the public fury and limit damage to council staff.

Mr Hubbard said it would be two to three weeks before a final solution was found, saying he had an open mind on variations to the $1.2 million council makeover for bluestone paving, new seating and a circle of five nectar-feeders to attract tui.

"One of the possible solutions is to have some bluestone paving in some of the more critical areas," said Mr Hubbard.

Council chief executive David Rankin was also in damage-control mode yesterday, denying that the consultation exercise was a sham and confident the new "process will get to the right answer".

Zambesi owner Neville Findlay was "weary" of consultation, saying the council needed to recognise the lane's value and the passion felt by the public against a makeover.

"Unfortunately, I don't trust their consultation."

Madcat fashion store owners Jill Alexander and John Hodge said Vulcan Lane should not be disturbed but wanted lighting to highlight the heritage buildings.

Trevor and Lynn Ready, of the Occidental Belgian beer cafe, said an upgrade was not needed and they "totally disagreed" with installing tui feeders.