Council eyes gang fortifications | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

With patches now banned, some members of Wanganui District Council have gang fortifications in their sights.

Councillors yesterday stopped short of applying to the District Court to have the fence around the Hells Angels premises in Wanganui's Kaikokopu Rd removed. They instead opted to get the advice of police before investigating whether the fences around 48 and 50 Kaikokopu Rd and 3 Gibson St could be regarded as intimidating.

The metal fences are tall, and topped by security cameras.

An amendment to the Local Government Act allows councils and police to seek a removal order for fences or other structures that are intimidating or contribute to illegal activities.

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said the council should take some leadership on the matter and apply to the Wanganui District Court. He said police had already raised the issue of the fences with the council on a number of occasions.

Councillors Rana Waitai, Randhir Dahya and Nicki Higgie agreed with him. Cr Dahya said he'd driven past 3 Gibson St twice on Sunday and it looked derelict and would lower property values.
 

Other councillors were more cautious about applying to the court.

Crs Ray Stevens, Rob Vinsen and Allan Anderson were worried the application would lead to expensive legal action.

Cr Stevens and Cr Barbara Bullock said police already had the tools to act.

Whether a structure was intimidating was a matter of opinion, and the opinion could be legally challenged.

"The judge will say, 'Show us the evidence'. There's no evidence that delineates the problem'," Cr Vinsen said.

He suggested asking the neighbours whether they felt intimidated.

Mr Laws said this was a ludicrous idea, as it could expose them to harrassment.

"Why are you so intent on helping the Hells Angels?" he asked.

Cr Allan Anderson said he didn't want to be labelled an apologist for gangs, but what was intimidating was a subjective matter. The Exclusive Brethren, for example, had equally high fences.

"I don't want to see council get involved in expensive litigation."

A first motion to apply to Wanganui District Court for a removal order for the Kaikokopu Rd fences was lost.

A second motion, to get more input from police, passed. Only Cr Stevens voted against it.