Encroachment policy upsets residents

Several Ings Ave, St Clair, homeowners say they are stuck between a hard place and a wall - or should that be fence?

Homeowners Jeannie Coburn and neighbours Sharon McKay and Wayne McFarlane received letters from the Dunedin City Council last month, after selling their properties, informing them their fences and carports encroached on council road reserve by about 1.5m.

The letters said the frontage to their properties had been ''modified to exclude public access'' and that they had the option of buying the council land, applying for a licence to occupy it or removing their fences and carports.

Miss Coburn, who has lived in her house for about four years, said she felt the council had chosen to inform her of the issue after the house sold to pressure her into making a decision which would affect the future occupier.

''They are only advising us when we are in a difficult position,'' she said.

''I feel the DCC have acted in an underhanded manner. They are doing it when people are stressed.''

Mr McFarlane agreed with Miss Coburn and was particularly upset council staff had raised the issue when it had no intention of widening the road.

He felt it was revenue gathering.

''It's just absolutely shocking,'' he said.

''I could understand if they had plans to utilise the land ... but they are not going to widen the road and that's the point.''

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Encroachment policy upsets residents