By KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
Organisers of a motorsport event are under fire from angry Rotorua businesspeople whose premises were littered with bottles and used as toilets.
Staff at Ti St businesses arrived at work yesterday to the stench of urine and empty alcohol bottles. Organisers of Sunday's event admitted they overlooked the need for toilets but felt that overall it was a big success.
JVs Car Shop and Countdown Supermarket were angry the Rotorua District Council allowed the event to go ahead.
The National Drifting Championships - in which drivers cause their vehicle's rear wheels to lose traction and go into a tail slide - attracted about 3000 people. Police believe three stolen cars and several minor thefts were linked to the event.
Council road engineer Adrian Trass defended the event. He was disappointed it had attracted negative publicity and pointed out that people had the chance to veto it beforehand when the road closure was advertised.
"From our point of view the event itself was well organised and well run. We are supportive of it as a positive event for youth with cars.
"The organisers are trying to do the right thing and get it off the street and run it in the right way."
One of the event's organisers, Rowan Knowles, said although there were a few "hiccups", it was a huge success. If it was held in Rotorua again, he would look for a different venue and ensure toilets were not overlooked, he said.
"Hopefully next year we will have more time to put it together to ensure we don't come across these issues again."
Jenny Bushett from JVs Car Shop said there were puddles of urine and empty bottles outside the store yesterday morning. She was also concerned people had climbed on to the roof to get a better view.
Event organisers picked up most of the rubbish and arranged for a cleaning company to disinfect the premises but Ms Bushett, who blamed the council, said better planning was needed.
Mr Knowles said only a few people had been drinking and urinating around buildings.
"It wasn't like there was a massive party behind the barriers. It was a few people. I thought the behaviour of the whole crowd was outstanding. It doesn't matter whether you go to a school gala or a national football match, you'll always get people like that."
A Countdown supermarket spokesman, who did not want to be named, was annoyed event spectators used the supermarket carpark despite signs asking them not to park there. Irate customers couldn't find parks and the store suffered a massive drop in takings for the day, he said.
"Those types of events attract the wrong element of people to the city. I'll give the council 10 out of 10 for trying but I'd be pretty annoyed if they did the same thing next year."
Senior Sergeant Brent Crowe, of the Rotorua Police Strategic Traffic Unit, said police had some concerns about the event.
"We will be looking into them further and drawing them to the attention of the district council and the organisers," he said.
Car event slammed after businesses `used as toilets'
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