A resident's objection to Bayfair expansion plans is resulting in Tauranga City Council having another look at pedestrian traffic flows round the shopping complex.

Farm St couple Stephen Bird and Alison Potter are objecting to the council's intentions to block off the ends of both Harris and Carter streets and revoke the connecting access way.

Stephen Bird outside the public walkway (to the right) Bayfair hopes to own.

Bayfair, Baywave and the Arataki skatebowl are drivers of pedestrian traffic throughout the Arataki area, but nothing has been provided for them, says Stephen.

People crossing Girven Rd from Baywave and the skatebowl go through the fuel station forecourt because it is the safest pedestrian route.

As residents of Farm St with young children the couple regularly use these roads, as they form an important part of the local public pedestrian and open space network, says Stephen.

'It seems stupid to drive 100 metres to go to the shop. We tend to walk the area quite a bit.”

There's limited provision for safe pedestrian and cycle access in the area – and Stephen believes it is not reasonable to further reduce these provisions to suit the demands of a single adjacent private landowner.

The couple feel it is important a safe network for moving around be maintained, given there are many children and young people in the area, and community facilities nearby.

Currently it is not possible to circumnavigate Bayfair Shopping Centre using public footpaths or public space, says Stephen. 'Connections into Bayfair are dangerous for all those not using motor vehicles.”

The current street form of cross-linking roads and access ways in Arataki provides an almost continuous public space from Oceanbeach Rd through to Harris St and Maunganui Rd.

Removing them is contrary to strategies the TCC has agreed to implement. The integrated transport strategy, urban design strategy, disability strategy and sustainable living – all these documents state council's commitment to delivering a city that promotes pedestrian use and linkages between neighbourhoods.

Stephen wants some of the land to be bought by Bayfair owners, AMP Capital, used to create public access routes.

TCC councillors agreed to meet with the objectors and Bayfair to work through the issues.