Council response to letter

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 12, 23 August 1983, Page 1

Council response to letter

In reply to the letter from Mr Ian Heappey which appears on this" page, the Ohakune Borough Council was approached for comment. Mayor Bill Taylor said that "the very existence of Planning Tribunals, and of course the one dealing with our cases here is only one of several, proves that we are dealing in an imprecise area". "The 'state of the art'- in town planning is that there are generally two, if not more, sides to a story," he added. "It is essential that all sides have recourse on occasions to outside ar- , biters." "Your correspondent, in his letter, shows not only a woeful ignorance of town planning but of elements basic to our whole system of justice." The Mayor concluded: "Despite this I woufd still urge the gentleman to enter the arena proper and stand for Council . Side-line carping gets more than a little tedious after a while." And Council did not lose all the appeals as Mr Heappy claims, said Bill Taylor. "Of the six appeals that were due to be held two were withdrawn on the advice of the appellants counsel — a 'win' to Council if ybu like — , Mr Heappy lost his appeal, Council lost one, whilst the other two could be con$idered a draw," he said. Town Clerk, Colin Turner, welcomed the Tribunal' s decisions saying that Council has a great deal of respect for Judge Treadwell's rulings and they now have these guidelines which have resolved a number of problems. ~ "They were good rulings and well worthwhile, resulting in a victory for both sides," he said. "We have now got a ruling back to the original intention of the District Scheme Plan," he said. "And I don't know where _Mr Heappey got his figures from — they are way out and I can only assume he is guessing. Perhaps he should stand for Council at the forthcoming election," said Town Clerk, Colin Turner.