Latest news with #ZoeHawkins
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
'Gaping holes, rusty bolts': Titirangi residents want dodgy footpaths fixed
Protuding nails and screws are a common sight on some of the footpaths on Titirangi Rd. Photo: Supplied via LDR Residents of an Auckland beachside community are frustrated with the dangerous footpaths on their roads, some which have caused severe injuries. Titirangi resident Zoe Hawkins has been trying for years to get Auckland Transport to hear their concerns for the footpaths on Wood Bay Rd, Otitori Bay Rd, Tanekaha Rd and Kohu Rd. She bashed her knee a few years ago while she was out running and tripped over wired mesh. After talking to a few other residents, Hawkins found others too have not been so lucky. "We need urgent maintenance on our wooden footpaths," Hawkins said. "I'm not talking cosmetic - I'm talking gaping holes, nails, and rusty bolts." She said the footpaths, wooden and concrete, have been deteriorating for years. Areas in the concrete path were cracked and uneven, the wooden boardwalks were slippery, had rotting wood, some with holes and loose mesh netting. Hawkins said the state of the footpaths was not ideal, especially for disabled people and mothers who take their babies out. "People are resorting to walking on the road, to avoid having to walk on these footpaths, and some who just choose not to walk at all because it's so unsafe." Teenager Annika Hogguer Mearns broke her ankle last year while out walking her dog Issy on Wood Bay Rd. Photo: Supplied via LDR Teenager Annika Hogguer Mearns broke her ankle last year, while out walking her dog Issy on Wood Bay Rd. Three metal rods were inserted during surgery, and she couldn't walk for more than a month. She was in crutches for a further two months. "I slipped on the wooden footpath, and the mesh gripping was coming off. It had been raining that day, it was slippery... was just quite a bad combination," the 17-year-old said. She said she was annoyed after the accident, because slippery, deteriorating and dishevelled footpaths were common in Titirangi. "I would just like them to be fixed so no one ends up in the same situation I was in, because it's not fun." Hawkins was calling on AT to do something, and consider longer term maintenance. "It desperately needs someone to come out, walk down the street, find the areas that are damaged and fix it. "But also, to look at a long-term maintenance plan to make sure that this doesn't keep happening." A resident says they've asked AT to do something for years, but nothing has come been done. Photo: Supplied via LDR An AT spokesperson said it has received photos of the footpaths in question from a concerned member of the Titirangi community. "But we were not provided with their specific locations," he said. "We are currently working through this to find the locations, make assessments, and then plan our next steps to fix the issues." He said AT was happy to carry out maintenance, as and when required. "We do rely on support from the public who can help us with specific reports of problems they encounter. "We advise that people call our call centre 09 355353 to report specific issues with specific locations, or use our WEB service link." This would ensure contractors were dispatched to make safe any urgent issues, and other repairs would be quantified and put on their priority based forward works program, he said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Powys County Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys tourism leaders slam Senedd's Visitor Levy Bill
MID Wales tourism industry leaders are worried that the Welsh Government is pressing ahead with a proposed tourism tax before fully understanding the potential impacts. The Visitor Levy Bill moved a step closer to becoming reality on Tuesday when the proposal was agreed in the Senedd, despite being strongly opposed by the tourism sector. The new legislation will give local councils in Wales the power to charge people up to £1.30 per person, per night, for overnight stays in visitor accommodation. The bill passed the third stage in the Senedd, which means it will likely be approved later this month before seeking royal assent from the King. The Welsh Government estimates the levy could raise around £33 million a year if adopted by all local authorities across Wales. Leaders at Mid Wales Tourism (MWT) Cymru, which represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Meirionnydd, are very concerned though. They have called for the tourism tax to be delayed until there is a register of all tourism businesses in Wales. 'Members of the Senedd are being asked to make a decision without crucial data or a full understanding of the potential impacts,' said Zoe Hawkins, MWT Cymru chief executive, who was disappointed that the Senedd rejected an amendment to compile this register before a tourism tax decision is made. 'Policies like this could potentially have long-lasting and damaging consequences, as we saw with the 182-day rule, which was intended to target second homes.' If visitor accommodation is not occupied for a minimum of 182 days of a year, owners face paying double or possibly triple council tax. The change has forced some to leave the sector and presented others with bills of up to £20,000. 'We are already seeing the evidence that it is harming genuine tourism businesses and farming families across Mid Wales,' added Ms Hawkins. 'If the visitor levy is truly in the best interests of Wales, as it should be, taking the time to get it right isn't just sensible, it's vital.' MWT Cymru's vice chairman Suzy Davies also warned about the wider impact of the levy. 'This has long ceased to be a 'tourism tax', charging visitors for the privilege of a holiday in Wales – it's a fee for staying in visitor accommodation for any reason,' she said. 'People going to a funeral, going into hospital, visiting loved ones in hospital or care homes, giving evidence in court, even escaping domestic violence – they will have to pay.' Councils can choose not to introduce the pending new charge, which Pembrokeshire, Wrexham, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynn Taff have already done. Ms Davies said this should give mid Wales counties "pause for thought", adding: 'With some already refusing to introduce a levy, no register of accredited businesses and an eye-watering predicted cost of the local and central administration of the legislation, there will be precious little money left to make any meaningful impact on improving the experience of residents or visitors.'
Business News Wales
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Tourism Leaders Warn Visitor Levy Decision 'Could be Made Without Crucial Data'
MWT Cymru chief executive Zoe Hawkins (left) and vice chairman Suzy Davies. Mid Wales tourism industry leaders have voiced concerns that the Welsh Government is pressing ahead with a proposed tourism tax 'before fully understanding the potential impacts'. The Visitor Levy Bill has passed the third stage in the Senedd, which means it will likely be approved later this month before seeking Royal Assent from the King. The new legislation will give councils the power to charge people up to £1.30 per person, per night for overnight stays in visitor accommodation. The Welsh Government estimates the levy could raise around £33 million a year if adopted by all local authorities across Wales. However, councils can choose not to introduce the charge which Pembrokeshire, Wrexham, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf have already done. The Vale of Glamorgan Council, Swansea Council and Newport City Council say they have no current plans to pursue the tax. Tourism leaders have warned that the tourism tax could cost more to administer than it actually raises. Leaders at MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism), which represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Meirionnydd, say they are very concerned. They have called for the tourism tax to be delayed until there is a register of all tourism businesses in Wales, ensuring that unregistered rivals cannot unfairly operate under the radar and avoid bills. Zoe Hawkins, MWT Cymru chief executive, is disappointed that the Senedd rejected an amendment to compile this register before a tourism tax decision is made. 'Members of the Senedd are being asked to make a decision without crucial data or a full understanding of the potential impacts,' she said. 'Robust, evidence-led policymaking is vital, especially when rural communities and the wider visitor economy are already under immense strain. 'Policies like this could potentially have long-lasting and damaging consequences, as we saw with the 182-day rule, which was intended to target second homes. Instead, we are already seeing the evidence that it is harming genuine tourism businesses and farming families across Mid Wales, which the sector had previously warned was a likely outcome. 'Decisions must be properly reviewed and scrutinised as part of a joined-up approach, not taken in isolation. Our politicians need to be 100 per cent sure that due diligence has been done when being asked to decide a policy which could have severe, unintended consequences, particularly in rural areas. 'If the visitor levy is truly in the best interests of Wales, as it should be, taking the time to get it right isn't just sensible, it's vital.' Suzy Davies, MWT Cymru's vice chairman, also warned about the wider impact of the levy. She said: 'This has long ceased to be a 'tourism tax', charging visitors for the privilege of a holiday in Wales – it's a fee for staying in visitor accommodation for any reason. 'People going to a funeral, going into hospital, visiting loved ones in hospital or care homes, giving evidence in court, even escaping domestic violence – they will have to pay. 'Visitor accommodation providers will have to be registered as a result of this legislation. This should help reassure visitors that properties are safe and legal, as well as providing a database of businesses which will be responsible for collecting the tax. 'Unfortunately, the Finance Secretary refused to compel councils to chase operators avoiding registration and collecting the tax so, once again, we see another burden which falls on the shoulders of the businesses playing the game not gaming the system. 'I'm pleased to see that some local authorities have already indicated that they will not or have no plans to introduce the tax. This must give neighbouring counties pause for thought, especially in Mid Wales. 'This policy is built on the premise that all councils will participate and raise an unsubstantiated amount of money from an unknown number of visitor accommodation providers. 'With some already refusing to introduce a levy, no register of accredited businesses and an eye-watering predicted cost of the local and central administration of the legislation, there will be precious little money left to make any meaningful impact on improving the experience of residents or visitors.'
