The James family's plea for Tauranga City Council to prevent Sandhurst Drive at Papamoa taking over as the name for the new Eastern Link access has fallen on deaf ears.

City councillors unanimously voted to duck the issue, saying the James family still gets to name the streets within the development on their former farm land.

Frank and Celia James on their former farm.

A map of the new link between Mangatawa interchange and Sandhurst Drive.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says there is even a possible military link with the name Sandhurst Drive and the former James farm.

Sometime about WW II part of the land was taken under the Public Works Act and used as a rifle range. This could be a connection, says Stuart.

The James family wants Sandhurst Drive to be renamed from its current end at Grenada Street to be named James Drive for the connecting link with the TEL.

One of the points made by the James is that naming the onramp connecting with the Nga Potiki owned Mangatawa Block after a British Military college, might not be acceptable to the iwi.

The James family also told council there was a verbal agreement made over renaming the road, but it was never put in writing.

The council bought the land off the James's under the Public Works Act. Sandhurst Drive was formed in 1995 and has 49 properties.

The James family gets no support from the owners of the Mangatawa Papamoa Block Incorporated either.

Their view is if anything other than Sandhurst Drive is chosen, then they want input as the naming should be guided by Mangatawa's long history in Tauranga and the historical significance of the area and Maori cultural significance – rather than the most recent former owners.

The family is very disappointed with the council decision, but family spokesman Richard James says it's not unexpected given the attitude of council staff they have been dealing with.

The dealings had a 'thin veneer of civility”, says Richard.

'I sensed the true depth of his feelings was when I said we used to own the land. His tone changed, took on almost ominous tone, ‘well you don't own it now do you'.

'He certainly appreciated the power that he holds.”

The only councillor support came from Steve Morris, who again reminded councillors that the policy being used to nail down Sandhurst Drive is the same policy that has resulted in nearby Maranui Street becoming Papamoa Beach Road, and Gloucester Road becoming Gravatt Road, so there is nothing really preventing the council from having Sandhurst Drive - James Road.

'I'm saddened my elderly parents' request has been subjected to the machinations of the bureaucracy and consider the administrative policy is lacking in scope to accommodate a sincere consideration of this matter,” says Richard.

'We hope that the timing of the nonelected officials report was not a cynical ploy designed to negate the opportunity to pursue this matter further, due to the fact the cutoff for submissions to the annual plan was within hours of the report's release.”

He says the family was told tehy can make submission on the issue in the Annual Plan process. Submissions closed 5pm Monday.

'We would like to thank the unanimous feedback from the members of the public who have given us unsolicited sympathy and moral support. We also appreciate the dignified manner extended to us by the elected councillors during our presentation.”

Tenders for the construction of the new road and the James property development will be called for this week, says Richard.

'We have been working with council to get a better price for both council and ourselves. Whoever wins will be able to price on a large job so the council will win and so will we.”

The James farming neighbours in Papamoa were the Gravatts, the Dicksons, the Evans, Simpsons, Thompsons, and Taylors – all of whom have roads named after them.