The Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board has clarified its intentions after receiving a scathing letter criticising its plans to deal with heavy-traffic parking in Lawrence.
At a meeting on Wednesday last week, board members discussed a letter written to the board by Nola Robertson, who criticised a move to restrict tourist parking.
At previous meetings, the board had brought up issues concerning camper vans blocking businesses in Ross Pl in Lawrence.
It was suggested, at the time, camper vans could park in Colonsay St or Irvine St.
Ross Pl had become busy and congested by extra tourists in the area.
However, in her letter to the board, Mrs Robertson said forcing camper van owners, who appeared to be mostly older people, to ascend the ''steep zigzag'' pathway from Colonsay St to Ross Pl would be a ''stupid idea''.
''You are saying tourists in cars can park in Ross Pl, but tourists in vans cannot.''
This was discrimination, she said.
Ross Pl was the heart of Lawrence and needed to stay that way and the board's interference was ''misguided'', Mrs Robertson said.
Board member Elizabeth Ritchie responded to the letter and clarified that forcing camper vans on to other streets was not the intention of the board.
Rather, she wanted better signs and indications about where parking was available so tourists could have more choice, she said.
She suggested installing a sign clearly pointing out there was parking in Colonsay St and marked angle parking.
''It was to provide an option to people who wanted to stay longer in Lawrence,'' Mrs Ritchie said.
Some tourists would perhaps benefit from parking away from Ross Pl, leaving space for others who were spending a only short time in the town to park there.
''They're free to make a choice.''
Board member Mel Foster said the letter showed there was a perception the board wanted to restrict parking altogether, which was incorrect.
Board chairman Garry McCorkindale said the board needed to clarify its intentions as even the minutes from the previous meeting were not very clear.
The board identified options for extra parking in Lawrence and asked for a report to be completed by the council on what could be done about identifying parking places.
